The Irish Scene Mar/Apr 2023

SCENE

VOL 25, No 2 MARCH/APRIL 2023

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Email: irishsceneperth@gmail.com Lloyd Gorman 0479 047 250 Email: irishsceneperth@gmail.com Canal Walk Media

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by contributors in articles, reproduced articles, advertisements or any other printed material contained in Irish Scene magazine or on www.irishscene.com.au are those of the individual contributors or authors and as such are not necessarily those of Canal Walk Media. The publisher and editor reserve the right to accept, reject, edit or amend submitted material in order to make it appropriate or suitable for publication. Irish Scene welcomes submissions, ideas and suggestions for articles and features as well as photographs of events happening around and within the Irish community in Western Australia.

We’ve weathered the COVID storm now its our turn to shine! BY LLOYD GORMAN

I

t has taken three long and difficult years to get to this point but once again the Irish community in Perth – and other parts of Australia and the wider diaspora – can comfortably look forward to celebrating a traditional St. Patricks Day, parade and all, in Leederville on Saturday March 18.

We have all come through a lot since Friday March 13th 2020. It was on that date, with less than 24 hours to go before the parade and festival was ready to go, that the organising committee made the gut-wrenching decision to call the whole thing off out of fear it had the potential to be a deadly super-spreader event.

Two days later Premier Mark McGowan declared a state of emergency for Western Australia. The front cover of the new Irish Scene at the time was inspired by the joy and fun of it.

The parade was off but there was no stopping the chaos of the COVID circus. It was the only show in town for a long time. McGowan shut the WA border on March 24 and we were all stuck at home for six weeks. It would not be until March 3 2022 – some 697 days after we were first locked away – when the borders reopened. But perhaps more than anything,

the St Patrick’s Day parade can make a comeback at all because of the blood, sweat and tears of St. Patrick’s Festival WA committee members and head Olan Healy have put into making it happen. Staging a parade under ‘normal’ circumstances is hard enough, but throw in the impacts of a global pandemic and you have something closer to a miracle. Having been denied the opportunity to celebrate March 17 hopefully the community will come together as never before to support this special occasion and make it our best yet.

The City of Perth will be doing its bit by bathing local landmark sites in green light on the night.

These will include Council House, Trafalgar Bridge, East Perth tunnels, Adelaide Terrace entry bridge, and the Pier and Hay Street lights will also be green.

Irish Scene will be at the parade taking photos so don’t be shy, call us over if you’d like to get your picture in the next edition. Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit!

Before St. Patrick we celebrate St. Bridgit Another brilliant day and important fixture on the Irish calendar was the St Brigid Festival at Kidogo Arthouse in Bathers Beach, in early February. Caroline McCarthy of the Torc Ceili Club organised this event, which was an all round community affair, and thanked everyone for their contribution.

The Claddagh Association welcomed people to the event, the Irish Theatre Players staged kids Storytime while Clár Ní Chonchuir also held a kids Irish language lesson.

The Australian Irish Heritage Association laid on a fascinating presentation about Ireland’s female patron saint and there was the opportunity for everyone to weave their own St Brigids Cross. On top of all this the Academy Irish Dance Co had brilliant displays of traditional Irish dancing helped along by a talented group of musicians, including Tommy O’Brien, Donough O’Donovan, Kevin Giang, Chris McMullan, David Johnston & Dympna Finch. A special thanks also to the Kidogo Arthouse team for providing the venue and a beautiful setting.

4 | THE IRISH SCENE

As you will see advertised in your copy of Irish Scene there are a lot of great public cultural and sporting events, concerts and gigs amongst others coming up in the near future that will provide entertainment and experiences to remember.

News of a new documentary about a remarkable – and highly under-rated Irishman – came out just as Irish Scene was going to press. Shackleton – The Greatest Story of Survivial – will be screened at Luna Leederville and Event Whitford and Event Innaloo for two weeks from March 9. Shackleton, born in Co. Kildare, was a humble hero who achieved the unimaginable against the greatest of odds.

Don’t be surprised if there’s a future feature about this remarkable Irish explorer –- who has a town in the Wheatbelt named after him – in Irish Scene.

Albo’s St Patricks Day apology!

We had hoped to bring readers a world first article in this edition, the Irish story of Australian PM Anthony Albanese, in his own words.

Not long after he was elected to run the country, the cover of the July edition of Irish Scene last year featured a photograph of him when in Dublin in 1988. We discovered a little about what he got up to there and also found out that he describes himself as “half Italian and half Irish”. Given this will be his first St. Patrick’s Day as Prime Minister – show me a politician who doesn’t like talking about their Irish credentials at this time of year – Irish Scene approached his press office to try and get an interview to find out more. If an upcoming trip west wasn’t an option we offered to fly anywhere in Australia to meet him. When it became clear that wasn’t going to happen before our deadline we asked if his office might supply a tailored message for the Irish community.

That wasn’t forthcoming either and an offer of a message from a much less senior member of his government didn’t have as much appeal.

So we will keep trying to track him down for a chat and hopefully bring you that to you in a future edition.

Perth’s America’s Cup floweth over!

It might seem a bit odd to have a collection of articles about St. Patricks’ Day in America in an Australian magazine but it actually makes perfect sense, particularly for our neck of the woods.

It started in a small way when I asked Perth playwright Noel O’Neill if he had or could write something about St Patricks Day. He quickly produced a great story about his first St. Patrick’s Day in his adopted home of New York, in 1968. His piece made reference to Bobby Kennedy, who took part in the parade after declaring his intention to run for the White House, and his late brother John (Jack) who was killed while in the office just five years earlier. When I looked at his short time as president, I discovered an incredible St. Patrick’s Day message he delivered in 1962, which includes a reference to Irish born patriot John Boyle O’Reilly and his time as a political prisoner in WA, when it was the Swan River colony.

That was fascinating enough but then the real bombshell dropped. It could well be –fingers crossed – that the cannon used to try and stop the escape of six Fenian (comrades of O’Reilly) on board the Catalpa has been identified, nearly 150 years after those dramatic events. The threat of firing on the Catalpa which sailed under the protection of American flag was the difference between freedom and failure. Irish, Australian and American history working hand in hand!

Given the links to the Kennedy’s and these deep links Irish Scene invited America’s ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy – daughter of JFK – to make a St. Patrick’s Day message to the Irish community through the magazine.

Ambassador Kennedy wasn’t in a position to respond to the request on this occasion, but we have asked for an interview with her when she is back in Perth.

THE IRISH SCENE | 5

The Big Bang Theory A

phone call in early February caused the first domino to fall in what could hopefully be a significant historical find of interest to the West Australian and Irish communities.

A curious caller – to the POST newspaper where I work as a reporter – said the four cannons that ‘guarded’ the Queen Victoria statue in Kings Park were no longer there and asked if I could look into their whereabouts and status as a matter of local interest.

The Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA) which runs Kings Park and Bold Park confirmed the cannons had been removed from the public area because of the effects of weather and the ageing process and are waiting for a decision to be made about what to do with them and how they might be restored. The guns were a gift to the newly formed state of Western Australia which came into being a short time before the Queen Victoria Memorial statue was built in 1903.

They may well have been fired as part of the unveiling ceremony, which was a major event at the time. Two of the pieces were made in 1813 and likely linked to the Napoleonic Wars and one of them may have even been captured from the Austrian army at the Battle of Waterloo. The other two were more recent (1843) and probably came to WA when convicts were shipped here after 1850. That was all interesting enough, but the next few lines really caught my attention. “One of the cannons may have been the signalling cannon once in position in front of the Fremantle Prison and used by the Pensioner Guards,” the BGPA response said. “A cannon located in Fremantle was loaded onto the Georgette after the escape of the Irish political prisoners on the Catalpa in 1876. It is possible that this was Cannon 3 or 4.

6 | THE IRISH SCENE

BY LLOYD GORMAN

Most sources describe this cannon as an old 12 pounder, with some sources stating that two cannons were loaded.”

The thought that I might have just haphazardly stumbled on the whereabouts of the cannon involved in the famous Catalpa escape struck me. Here was a bigger story than I might have first imagined, hopefully a rare discovery and chance to reconnect a missing artefact with its place in history.

More work remains to be done to confirm their Catalpa credentials and as the deadline for this edition forced a cut-off point insert this will be something we will return to in an upcoming edition, hopefully in the very near future. In the meantime, the available evidence points in the right direction. The Catalpa story and Fenian association has always been a source of pride and interest in the Irish community in WA and inspired many – including the late Brendan Woods, Liam Barry, Ormonde Water – as well as the likes of Peter Murphy and others in the John Boyle O’Reilly Association who dedicate much of their lives to preserving and promoting that heritage. Many will watch the outcome of this new development with interest.

“This is a very exciting discovery,” said Margo O’Byrne from the Fenians Fremantle and Freedom Festival. “If the cannon can be authenticated as the one on the Georgette, then it’s an important piece of Fenian history.

Together with the Catalpa artefacts held by Captain Anthony’s family in New Bedford, it would make a great exhibition leading up to the 150 year anniversary of the escape in 2026.’”

“I’ll blow your masts out...

I have the means to do it” I n his book ‘The Catalpa Expedition’, published in 1897, Captain George Anthony described the amazing story behind the escape effort, including how close it came to disaster.“About an hour after sunrise the Georgette was seen coming out of Fremantle,” Chapter 25, ‘A race with the guard-boat’ opens. “The men knew she was searching for them, and she seemed to be heading directly for the little boat...The steamer [Georgette] passed within a half mile of the boat and Captain Anthony could plainly see an officer on the bridge with glasses, scanning the shore. [It] must have appeared like a log and been mistaken for a piece of floating timber... for she steamed by and went out to the Catalpa.

The anxious men in the boat feared she would remain by the Catalpa and prevent them from going aboard, but the Georgette steamed up the coast after a while and swung in toward Garden Island, passing the whaleboat once more, but at a safe distance.”

When the coast was clear the six Fenian comrades started rowing furiously for two hours to reach the Catalpa. As they got close to their get-away ship the Georgette “filled with police” was spotted again travelling in the direction of the American whaling ship.

“The guard-boat was large, with two muttonleg sails, and there were thirty or forty men aboard. Affairs in the whaleboat assumed a belligerent aspect. Rifles were distributed, wet cartridges drawn from revolvers and replaced with fresh, and the prisoners swore they would fight until the last man was killed.”

“The police evidently suspected something... now it was a question whether the guard-boat would intercept the small boat before the ship was reached. If this was done, there would be a fatal conflict...There were moments of suspense, but at length it was seen that the whaleboat would reach the Catalpa.

The fast moving boat carrying the escapees collided with the Catalpa with enough force to knock them off their feet. Despite this they quickly climbed onboard and moments later and just as their row boat was being hoisted out of the water the Georgette “swept across the bow”. Instead of hiding from sight the rescued men waived their rifles in the air and taunted their pursuers by calling out their names and shouting “salutations and farewells”.

Captain G eorge

Anthony

“The guard knew that it was useless for them to attempt to board the vessel.

The officer in command Captain Charles Finnerty accepted the result gracefully, and, giving a military salute, said “Goodmorning, captain.” “Goodmorning,” replied Captain Anthony, and the guardboat [returned to] shore.

There were wild scenes on board the whaleship in the next hour. The rescued men were in a

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THE IRISH SCENE | 7

state of exaltation, and cheered the captain, the crew, and everybody connected with the enterprise.”

It was the second time that day the Georgette had been sent packing. The first encounter saw it came alongside and enquire about the ships missing rowboat (the one being used by the escaped prisoners). A request to board Catalpa was impolitely refused. The jubilant escape party and ships crew enjoyed a hearty meal and their victory. The next chapter opens with the Georgette returning at daybreak, sparking a frenzy of activity. This time she was returning not as a police boat, but as a war ship. Upon returning to Fremantle she picked up additional manpower and some heavy duty firepower. “As the steamer came nearer, it was seen that she had a regiment of soldiers aboard,” Captain Anthony recalled.

“The Georgette was a four hundred ton vessel, twice as big as the Catalpa. On her upper deck a big gun was mounted, and the soldiery were assembled on the main deck, a forest of bayonets glistening in the morning sun. It was a show which was calculated to intimidate the men on the little whaleship, but no one on the Catalpa faltered. The captain ordered the ensign hoisted to the masthead, and mounted the poop deck. It was seen that Colonel Harvest, heavy laden in the gorgeous trappings of a British army officer, was in charge of the deck. At one moment, when the colonel’s attention was elsewhere. Captain O’Grady waved his hat...and Captain Anthony waved his hand in response. The next salutation was a solid shot fired across the bow of the Catalpa.

As it ricocheted along, the water flew as high as the masthead. “Heave to!”, “What for?” screamed Captain Anthony in reply.

“You have escaped prisoners aboard that ship.”

“You’re mistaken,” said Captain Anthony.

“There are no prisoners aboard this ship.

They’re all free men.”

The Catalpa’s rowboat the Georgette had noticed missing before was now back in its rightful place. The Fenians and their friends got ready to repel a boarding party.

“I see the men aboard the ship now,” yelled Colonel Harvest.

“You’re mistaken, sir,” returned Captain Anthony. “Get up, men, and show yourselves.. you can see for yourself they are my crew,” said the captain.

“I have telegraphed the American government, and have orders to seize you,” was the colonel’s next announcement.

Captain Anthony knew this was impossible and made no reply.

“I’ll give you fifteen minutes in which to heave to,” said Col Harvest, “and I’ll blow your masts out unless you do so. I have the means to do it.”

He pointed to the gun, which the soldiers were swabbing, preparatory to reloading.

“This ship is sailing under the American flag and she is on the high seas. If you fire on me, I warn you that you are firing on the American flag.” This was Captain Anthony’s reply.”

The Georgette did not open fire but did continue to chase the Catalpa with orders shouted once more for her to “heave to” so she could be boarded. The game of cat and mouse continued for about an hour, with the fast moving vessels narrowly missing each other on at least one occasion. Then about four o’clock in the afternoon the Georgette – which was running out of fuel – came to a stop while the wind picked up and carried the Catalpa swiftly away. “When the Catalpa was some distance away. Captain Anthony called to the rescued men, “Boys, take a good look at her. Probably you’ll never see her again...and the Catalpa sailed serenely on, and the star-spangled banner floated bravely in the breeze.”

Irish against Irish – The Georgette v Catalpa

by Robert Mitchell, Australian Army Museum of WA

T

he paths of individuals in a diaspora can be many and varied. It is not surprising therefor that former neighbours might find themselves therefor on opposite sides of a conflict a world away from their birth village. The Irish diaspora of the 19th century created many examples of this situation.

During the United States civil war for example an estimated 150,000 Irish-Americans fought for the Union and 40,000 for the Confederacy.

8 | THE IRISH SCENE

Western Australia has its own example of confrontation between expats with several unique twists and a few unanswered questions.

Documentation by Family History WA has tabulated that thirty seven ships brought 1,249 Enrolled Pensioner Guards (EPGs) to Western Australia between 1850 to 1874. To ensure the safety of the convict ships each ship had a guard consisting of men who had been pensioned off from the British Army. As an enticement to volunteer as a convict guard, each man was offered a free passage for himself, his wife

and children, guaranteed employment for a limited period after arrival and to those eligible, a land grant and a two-roomed cottage. Many Pensioner Guards moved on to other Australian colonies but the substantial number that remained in Western Australia played important roles in the defence of Western Australia and the development of its military traditions. Of Pensioner Guards arriving in Western Australia, an estimated 700 were Irish born. This is not surprising as between 1830-1878, the Irish made up on average 28 per cent of the British Army. One factor behind this statistic was the overcrowded cities and industrialisation which left many English males unhealthy and physically broken. In contrast, rural Ireland was producing strong men who were suited to the army and as a result recruiting sergeants were sent there to swell the units of the British Army.

For most who joined the Army, it was a matter of necessity rather than choice.

If you were not a first-born son of one of the ascendancy landowning families, you would not inherit the family estate. It was either the Army as an officer or the Church because gentlemen did not go into trade. For the general population, faced with unemployment or famine, enlistment meant survival and opportunity. Irish soldiers did not serve in Ireland. When you enlisted it was forced emigration because service was for 21 years with entitlement for a pension (if you survived) on completion. Service as a Pensioner Guard could follow. This was the path that saw many born in Ireland come to be in Western Australia serving in the Pensioner Guards and the Enrolled Pensioner Force. The Staff Captain of the Enrolled Pensioner Force from 1859 to 1880 was Captain Charles Finnerty. Charles Finnerty’s origins were in Bumlin, a Townland and Parish of County Roscommon, Enlisting in the 47th Regiment in 1833, he was commissioned in 1854, saw service in the Crimean War and arrived in Fremantle in 1859 to command the Enrolled Pensioner Force. The other path of the diaspora confrontation begins in 1868 with the arrival in Fremantle of the last convict transport, Hougoumont, carrying 279 convicts, including 62 Fenians. Fenian served, at the time, as an umbrella term for the Fenian Brotherhood and the Irish Republican Brotherhood, two secret political organisations dedicated to the

establishment of an independent Irish Republic.

The Fenians prisoners were from the hundreds of men arrested in Ireland in 1865, on suspicion of complicity in a planned uprising. There were two elements amongst the men charged, convicted, and sentenced to transportation: civilians, and serving British soldiers. The civilians were classified as political prisoners, whilst the ex-military were treated as ordinary criminals.

There were sixteen Irish soldiers serving in, or deserters from, the British Army aboard the Hougoumont, eight of whom had been given life sentences. The following year John Boyle O’Reilly formerly of the 10th Hussars escaped from Bunbury aboard an American whaling vessel. In 1869 the civilian element was granted clemency and freed but the military Fenians were not included in this action. The planning, implementation, pursuit and subsequent escape of six of the remaining prisoners in 1876 is well documented and covered elsewhere. Those involved in the escape were (former ranks and units shown) Sergeant Major Thomas Darragh, 2nd Queen’s Regiment; Private Thomas Henry Hassett, 24th Regiment; Privates Michael Harrington and Robert Cranston 61 st Regiment; and Troopers Martin Hogan and James Wilson, 5th Dragoon Guards The climax of this Irish on Irish encounter came on 19 April 1876 in international waters off Rottnest Island.

Under Captain O’Grady the steamer Georgette, this time armed with a 12 pounder cannon with Captain Finnerty and a detachment of pensioner guards on board again confronted the Catalpa with the six Fenian escapees on board. A warning shot was fired from the 12 pounder.

The firm freedom of the seas bluff and the protection under the American flag offered by Captain Anthony of the Catalpa and Governor Robinson’s instructions to the Georgette to avoid an international incident resulted in a stand-off. The Catalpa sailed away into legend and a continuing inspiration for IrishAustralians. Interesting questions remain for the dedicated researcher. Were there any Irish-born Pensioner Guards on board the Georgette; in which units had they served; might they have known the six escapees and where is the 12 pounder gun today?

THE IRISH SCENE | 9

T

he Catalpa Escape is at the heart of Rockingham’s history and is the story of one of the greatest prison breaks of all time, impacting international relations and linking Rockingham to Ireland and the USA for years afterwards.

The Catalpa Committee comprising of experienced Rotarians, Street Hassle Events, Tourism Rockingham and local volunteers headed up by Laurie Smith have worked tirelessly to see how this part of Rockingham’s history could be brought to life.

On Easter Monday, 10th April 2023 the inaugural Catalpa Adventure Festival will take place commemorating this amazing escape through a free community event.

This exciting ground-breaking event to be held in Churchill Park between twelve midday and 6pm will comprise of performances from musicians, local historians, dancers and actors all bringing their own take on the history behind the escape.

To compliment the stage performances there will be food stalls, installations documenting the history of prisoners in Fremantle and the subsequent escape, family entertainment, free kids activities, market stalls and a licensed bar delivering some real Irish flavours.

The committee are excited to announce we have the support of Lotterywest, Fremantle Ports, Palm Beach Rotary, and residents.

Further announcements will be made of other major supporters shortly.

10 | THE IRISH SCENE

The vision of this event, being the only event in Rockingham over the Easter weekend is to hold it annually with the 150th anniversary of the escape being held in 2026 as an iconic event.

The Catalpa Committee are looking for support from any volunteers or sponsors who wish to be involved to ensure the inaugural events is a success. The committee are projecting visitor numbers of up to 10,000 to include local community groups, residents, families, Irish groups and visitors from Perth, Bunbury, Fremantle and beyond.

Deborah Dewe, Manager of the Accredited Rockingham Visitor Centre/Tourism Rockingham is proud to be a major supporter and part of the committee developing this event. She states “ It is important we have a varied events calendar in Rockingham not only to entertain, educate and inspire the local community, but to put Rockingham on the map and entice visitors from all over WA, Australia and overseas “. For further information please contact Laurie Smith or Deborah Dewe This is an exciting new event not to be missed!!!

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Another Freo legend in its own lunchtime!

BY LLOYD GORMAN

T

he swashbuckling prospect of being able to fire an old fashioned cannon might not be as long a long shot as you might think.

In fact, pretty much anyone who can make their way into Fremantle on any given day

12 | THE IRISH SCENE

could potentially have the opportunity to do just that – for free. It should be as simple a matter as shooting off an email (and being older than eight years of age) and the only other thing you need to be is organised enough to plan in advance and request a

particular date. If no one else has gotten there before you the gig is yours!

An important but no longer used maritime practice that revolutionised navigation and improved safety for sea goers is alive and well in the Port city. Western Australia’s oldest building – the Roundhouse in Freo – is the perfect location for this daily display. Sitting on top of Arthurs Head near Bathers Beach the Round House (opened in January 1831) was the perfect place to send messages to incoming or passing ships so that they could precisely work out their bearings and know exactly what time it was, vital and valuable information which kept ships and their crews on track and alive.

The way these signals were communicated evolved and changed over the years but the daily ritual – held bang on 1pm – remained a constant fixture.

“From 1900, a time ball was used to signal the correct time for seafarers to set their chronometers (clocks used in/ for navigation),” the Fremantle Ports website explains (better than this writer could). “A sliding ball was mounted on a pole extending from the roof of a small tower. The mechanism was connected by telephone line to Perth Observatory and when the clock struck one an impulse was sent down the telephone line to Fremantle, releasing the ball so that it slid down the pole. A gun was also fired.”

Like other signals systems before it the time ball system was overtaken in 1937, this time by radio signals, but it is was where the expression to keep your eye on the ball began.

The antiquated time ball and cannon firing ceremony was

reintroduced in 1988 as a local custom and tourist attraction in 1988, and continues to this day.

Irish Scene couldn’t resist having a look and visited the historic spot in late February. I dragged my nine year old son and his friend down with me, selling them on the idea of being able to watch a ‘pirate’ cannon going off and ice cream afterwards. We arrived a little before 1pm and there was already an assembly of visitors and willing spectators. The friendly guides on hand from the Fremantle Volunteer Heritage Guides Association (FVHGA) did an excellent job of helping the visitors and to explain the history of the whole thing. A new guide had the honour of firing the cannon for the first time. Before anything happens the guides go through a count down and say ‘fire’ when the moment comes, and they recommend everyone should cover their ears. I was positioned with my camera in the hope of catching a blast of smoke from the barrel of the cannon. To be honest, despite being ready for it (or so I thought) the bang was so loud that it startled me to the point that I flinched and lost the picture opportunity.

The small 4 pounder cannon with a small amount of explosives made a big bang, enough of a force to leave the barrell hot to the touch. What would a 12 or 16 pounder with a solid ball shot hurtling out of it and a massive recoil look and sound like I wondered? This was a replica built for entertainment, rather than warfare. The cannon is the property of the Fremantle Dockers Football Club and is on loan to the FVHGA and Port Authority, which covers the cost of the pyrotechnics used.

The replica weapon used to be wheeled out for big games at Subiaco Oval when the Dockers were playing. But even in the former 43,500 seat stadium the firing mechanism apparently proved even too big a sound for that venue!

Pointed out towards the sea above the old fortress feels like exactly the rightful place for this lunchtime legend.

THE IRISH SCENE | 13

Geraldton’s salute to ‘Sydney’

E

very November in Geraldton a solitary cannon is fired out to sea as the sun goes down to mark a historic WWII battle and the hundreds of sailors who died fighting it. The gun is discharged – a blank that still makes a big bang – as part of the annual commemoration held at the HMAS Sydney II Memorial, on top of Mount Scott. The Royal Australian Navy light cruiser engaged in a brief but brutal exchange of fire with the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran off the coast of Western Australia on November 19, 1941. About half an hour after they opened up on each other, the Sydney – considered a ‘lucky ship’ and the pride of the fleet by many in the service – and her company of 646 men were destroyed in action and lost without a trace. It was and remains the single greatest tragedy in the history of the RAN. When the guns fell silent the German warship – a modified merchant ship – was also damaged beyond repair and would blow up later, before sinking beneath the waves. But her crew fared much better in the fight. More than seventy German sailors perished on the day – the majority of them were in a lifeboat that sank – while a total of 318 of them were rescued. The annihilation of the Sydney and the loss of so many men was a major blow to Australia and the war effort, the families involved and the wider community. Its dramatic disappearance

and lack of any survivors – or indeed any bodies ever being found – also meant there was shock and questions about how a ship like the Sydney could be beaten by what was effectively a modified merchant marine vessel.

HMAS Sydney II and her secrets remained hidden for a lifetime. On St Patrick’s Day 2008, the then prime minister Kevin Rudd publicly announced that Australia’s most enduring maritime mystery had been solved. The wreck of the Sydney had been discovered just 24 hours earlier the day and five days before that the watery grave of the Kormoran was also found. Sydney’s final resting place was about 207km (128 miles) from the west coast (Steep Point) of Western Australia at a depth of nearly 2,500 metres. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of her sinking a national memorial was unveiled to commemorate HMAS Sydney II and her company of 645 men. That memorial at Mount Scott, Geraldton, was designed and created by talented husband and wife

team Joan Walsh-Smith and Charles Smith of Smith Sculptors, originally from Waterford, Ireland. Charlie and Joan live and operate from their home and studios in Gidgegannup from where they have created quite a few war memorials as well as a plethora of public artworks and similar projects across Australia.

The HMAS Sydney II Memorial is an amazing tribute to the fallen sailors and an incredible landmark in its own right, and must be one of the best of its kind in Australia. The location has stunning sea views and a substantial parcel of land divided into various areas of remembrance and reflection. These include the silver dome made up of 645 seagulls, one for each

of the lost sailors, a wall with photographs of the Sydney and the names of the crew and the Stele – a remarkable sculpture shaped like the ships bow. And there is so much more to this special place, which is always worth visiting.

Steven Martin (MLC), as a member for the agricultural region, was invited to the 81 st anniversary sunset ceremony last year and was eager to share his experience with the parliament.

“As members of Parliament, we are very fortunate to be invited to participate in all sorts of very special events, but I have to say

Crew of HMAS Sydney II

Phone 08 9401 1900

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16 | THE IRISH SCENE

Joan and Charlie Walsh-Smith

that this memorial was very special,” Mr Martin told the Legislative Council a few days later on November 22. “I will cherish having had the privilege of laying a wreath at that memorial...to commemorate and remember the 645 souls who were lost... the view from the top of Mt Scott of the ocean and surrounds makes the memorial a very special place. I recommend to those members who have not seen the memorial that they get there. From the dome of the souls, which comprises 645 stainless steel seagulls, to the statue of the waiting woman, to the remembrance pool, to the 645 names on the granite plaque behind the area, and to the firing of the cannon at sunset, it was a very special and poignant event.”

Steven Martin MLC lays a wreath at the memorial

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BY LLOYD GORMAN

A blast from our past!

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former British army World War I artillery piece with an unenviable place in Irish history and an unbelievable story is the latest exhibit to go on display at the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks. There is no doubt the 18-pounder 9168 field gun belongs to the story of the modern Irish state but it came periously close to being lost forever.

It was one of four guns of the same type that the British army gave to the newly formed and lightly armed National (Irish) army to surpress the Anti-Treaty IRA forces that occupied the Four Courts in last June 1922. The presence of some 200 ‘irregulars’ had been tolerated but the British government insisted the illegal occupation and challenge to the state needed to be put down, with force if necessary.

A final warning to get out of the courts complex in June 1922 went unheeded by the Republicans inside.

Shells from the four heavy guns – including the museum’s newest artefact – positioned around the building, poured down on the Four Courts, the opening shots in the Irish Civil War. No doubt the cannon saw further action in the bitter and brutal conflict that ensued but perhaps those first shots fired in anger were its most significant.

The weapon remained in service with the Irish army until 1959 when it was included in a shipload of artillery and machine guns sold to the US International Armament Corporation in Viriginia, America. [In that same year the

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major arms dealer had sold a consingment of ArmaLite AR-10 rifles to the American backed regieme of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista but when the cargo arrived at the Havana docks it was seized by the rebel forces of Fidel Castro. Samuel Cummings, the owner of the arms dealership, wrote to Castro and asked him to pay for the rifles, or return them to him. Castro paid up for the firearms and was so impressed with their effectiveness that he tried to buy more from Cummings, who was only prevented from doing more business with him thanks to the arms embargo imposed on the small island nation by the USA. While there is a period of at least ten years in which we don’t know what happened to the cannon it seems it found a home in Viriginia rather than in the arsenal of some military group. In the 1970s it passed into the hands of the owners of the Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre on Richmond Highway, Lorton, Virginia. It would remain there for the next forty years, sitting outside in a field exposed to the elements, rusting away, before it was saved by the longest of odds.

By pure chance the curator of the National Museum of the US – Ken Smith-Christmas – happened to be at the venue and the overgrown bush caught his attention. In particular he spotted something highly unusual, Gaelic lettering. He investigated further and saw it was the Gaelic script for Fianna Fáil (soldiers of destiny), the symbol of the Irish army. (continued)

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At a conference in Canada afterwards Mr Smith-Christmas realised the significance of the gun after he happened upon a presentation given by the then curator of the National Museum of Ireland Lar Joye. The connection was made and the dots joined. The Lazy Susan owners – a married couple in which the wife was Irish apparently – agreed the gun should return to Ireland. It was shipped out in August 2016 and sent to the Irish defence

forces main base at the Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare where a team of specialists – who call themselves Tiffys – went to work on the heavily corroded century old weapon of war.

“The Ordnance Corps technicians at the Defence Forces’ Ordnance Base Workshops (OBWs) adopted an archaeological approach when working to conserve this Mk II 18-pounder field gun,” the National Museum of Ireland said on February 10. “This involved thousands of hours of painstaking work to conserve the field gun, which is now owned by the Irish Defence forces.”

Operation Restoration - The team that restored the field gun to its original condition

A chance encounter with field gun 9168

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he exhaustive six year restoration process had just finished when by sheer serendipity my father and I became some of the first members of the public to see the finished article. On our last trip home to Ireland in July 2022 I was on a mission to visit the army museum in the Curragh. Brian Corr, originally from Kildare and former Perth resident now living in Tasmania, had contributed an article about the 100th anniversary of the death of Michael Collins for Irish Scene in August last year. In it Brian mentioned the armoured Rolls Royce car –- Sliabh na mBan – (one of 13 acquired by the Irish Free State from the British army) which formed part of the convoy that travelled with the Irish commander on the fateful day (August 22, 1922) he was shot and killed. That milestone anniversary was about a month off and I figured the museum might at the

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very least be interested to see the article and maybe even put it into their archives. I knew Sliabh na mBan ‘lived’ in the army museum, which is about two miles up the road from where my parents still live in Brownstown, on the outskirts of the Curragh. Considering we just walked in off the street without an appointment we were well received and a bit of chat ensued after I produced copies of the relevant edition of the magazine. Then one of the soldiers asked “Would you like to see it (Sliabh na mBan)?”, a question to which there could only be one answer. I had seen the beautifully restored and fully operational vehicle on display and even driven around at an event in the Curragh many years ago but here was another rare chance to see it again.

We were taken through the main museum area and then through a door to where the storage rooms and workshops are housed.

Before long we were in the shed where the armoured car is housed. It was exciting to get up close to the vehicle which has such an important and iconic place in Irish history, but which would have been painfully uncomfortable to ride in.

After we had our fill of examining it from every angle our guide said there was something else there that we might be interested in.

Very close to the Collins car was the freshly reminted MK II 18-pounder. He told us the full story behind the gun and how it was discovered.

We were lucky to catch it there.

It was due to go to the National Museum any day now, quietly waiting to make

its big public entrance.

Our stroke of good luck in getting such a priviliged sneek peek was not lost on me and my dad – a retired member of the Irish Defence Forces himself and an equally big history enthuisast – as we both had a really good look at it. After that we were escorted into other sections of the museum, including an old calvary stables where several army and UN vehicles were sheltered. It was a well spent hour for which I would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the museum men. It certainly isn’t every day you get such a special and hands on encounter with something that helped shape the modern Irish state we know today.

Pound for pound heavyweights

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ts particular history makes it unique but the new exhibit is not the only 18 pounder field gun to be found at Collins Barracks. The National Museum of Ireland (NMI) already has a similar artillery piece on display in its section dedicated to 1916. The Ordnance QF 18 pounder was the standard field gun of the British Army in the World War I era and thousands of them were manufactured and used to deadly effect in Europe. They were also deployed to suppress the 1916 Easter Rising and caused much of the death and

destruction that ensued. But there is another reason why Ireland’s national museum should include one of them in an exhibition.

The first shots fired in anger by the British Army at the start of ‘The Great War’ were at Mons, Belgium by the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards. According to the NMI: “This Force included four Irish Cavalry regiments and nine Irish Infantry battalions. Artillery pieces such as the 18 pounder field gun pictured here would have been used during World War I and armed by 10 soldiers.”

THE IRISH SCENE | 23

Should Irish missiles end up in Ukraine or the scrap heap?

Cathal Berry TD

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ith some 2,000 serving personnel, the Curragh Camp is Ireland’s biggest military base and has the country’s biggest stockpile of weapons and munitions. Some of that modern day hardware – particularly Javelin anti-tank weapons systems – is approaching the end of its useful lifespan and should be put to good use Indepdent TD for Kildare South Cathal Berry told the Dail last year, following an address by Ukraininan president to the Irish parliament in April last year.

“Following on from President Zelenskyy’s address, he is looking for more [support/ weapons]. He is looking for more leadership,” Mr Berry, a former Army Ranger (Ireland’s special forces unit) told the house. “One hour’s drive from here in the Curragh Camp, there are hundreds of anti-tank rockets nearing the end of their shelf life that could very easily be transferred to the Ukraine defence forces. The reason that is so important is that we know the Russians are preparing a massive offensive in the east at the moment and that this offensive is likely to be successful but it does not have to be this way. We have learned from the successful defence of Kyiv that the future is not written in stone. It has yet to be decided and it will be determined not just by fate but by decisions and actions of the people in this Chamber over the next few days. For precisely those reasons, I urge the Taoiseach to send protective, defensive weapons to Ukraine in

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order that we stop the Russian advance, that we drag Russia to the negotiating table and that together we alter the course of history.

Slava Ukraini.”

The idea of supplying these weapons to the Ukranian army has a lot of support and sympathy within the Irish defence forces community, an Irish Times article headed ‘Irish soldiers: Idle anti-tank missiles should be sent to Ukraine’.

Ireland is – and has been – a neutral country since the formation of the state, including during WWII when this made it very unpopular with the British government (who wanted access to Irish ports for its navy).

Ireland’s position in taking in more than 70,000 Ukranian refugees and providing nonlethal support, such as helmets, bullet proof vests, ambulances and the like is one thing but if these deadly anti-tank missiles were supplied to Ukranian forces Russia could claim Ireland had violated its neutrality and become an active party in the conflict. Even when there appears to be such an overwhelming case to help one side more than the other the issue isn’t simplistic. Ireland’s position as a neutral nation is jealously guarded by the government – which can use it to speak with authority in the United Nations etc – and previous administrations. Once that reputation and ability to speak and act as an honest broker is tainted it is open to claims of bias.

BY LLOYD GORMAN

Kings Park monarch has Derry roots

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he Queen Victoria statue in Kings Park that was ‘guarded’ by the four cannons is a copy of the original monument to the English monarch, found in Derry, Northern Ireland.

The replica was unveiled in October 1903 and everything about it – including its prime location overlooking Perth and the four cannons surrounding – was designed to project patriotic British pride and power and to honour the royal leader who had died just two years earlier. The sculpture – inside Derry’s Guildhall – was erected (by public subscription) while she was still alive, on November 24, 1898 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the accession to the throne. It was the first statue of Queen Victoria unveiled in Ireland and is said to have been the only statue of her that the posed for.

There is one significant difference between the two figures. Unlike its Irish predecessor the Perth replica has not been mutilated. The missing body parts are the result of damage caused to the statue, and the historic townhall, as a result of the Troubles. Two bins near her likeness were filled with semtex in June 1972. When the bombs explosed the entire 5.5 tonne sclupture was blown of its perch and towards a window.

The Queen’s head is believed to have been sent flying out the window and landed in the street.

Certainly her head became detached in the blast but was reattached and repaired, but the hands could not be saved.

It is six feet 10 inches in height and weighs in at 2.5 tons. It was carved out of one solid block of Sicilian marble by one F J Williamson, the Crown sculptor for a period of 32 years. The monarch is depicted in her ceremonial gowns and robes, with the Order of the Garter band across her chest.

It stands on a plint four feet high, weighing three tonnes, made from polished granite from Scotland and is imposing in both stature and size.

THE IRISH SCENE | 25

Derry celebrates a famous son

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f the impressive Gothic styled building still bears the scars of a troubled past then it also houses evidence of fresh hope for the future and a memorial – but not a statue – of a different type. A special collection of the world renowned peace accolades awarded to the late John Hume, who was born and bred in Derry, is now on display in the Guildhall.

This exhibit includes the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize, jointly awarded to John Hume and Sir David Trimble for their role in the Northern Ireland peace process, the Martin Luther King Jr. Non-Violent Prize bestowed in 1999, and the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize, awarded in 2001. The late SDLP (Social Democratic and Labour Party) leader is the only person to have received all three distinguished awards, making his achievement a truly unique one and an incredible legacy for the people of Derry.

Another tribute to John Hume, and his wife Pat, is set to be staged at the Guildhall from March 31 to April 7. ‘Beyond Belief – the life and mission of John Hume’ is a new musical drama to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

“Beyond Belief will present John Hume’s life and his odyssey for peace, the right to decent life, and the right to hope,” the promotional material states. “While he has been described as a “Titan”, a “Giant” and a “Hero” of peacemaking and reconciliation, Beyond Belief, in its words and music, will reach for the man: the man who achieved all he did not glibly, without struggle or alone, but as a human being; a human being just like the rest of us. In re-presenting John Hume, his life and his mission – a mission never fettered by shibboleth, dogma or fossilised tenet – Beyond Belief will seek to inspire through words, music, song. The anniversary performance on 7th April 2023 will be broadcast live and available to stream for seven days afterwards.”

BY LLOYD GORMAN

Why Sydney has Dublin’s Famine Queen

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ueen Victoria visited Ireland (not for the first time) in April 1900 during which time it was proposed that a national monument should be commissioned and erected to the British monarch. Nine months later the Royal matriarch died, giving backers of the project renewed motivation for it to be carried out. Dublin artist John Hughes (1865-1941) was given the task of creating a memorial for the Crown figure. Hughes had created other statues - such as a life-size statue of Fenian writer Charles Kickham in Tipperary town - and for this commission he relocated to Paris. His creation was unveiled at a gala ceremony in 1908. More than a

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thousand British soldiers and a large number of guests and VIPs swelled the manicured enclosed courtyard of Leinster House where it was installed. Leinster House was the home of the Royal Dublin Society, who had bought it from the Duke of Leinster in 1815. Victoria’s successor King Edward VII opted not to unveil the memorial - perhaps its first rejection (of many) - and the job of dedicating it was handed to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

The statue attracted some criticism and even Hughes came to realise that the statue was out of scale to its surroundings at Leinster House (he believed it would be placed at the much larger and open Phoneix Park).

The ornate style of its pedestal also clashed badly with the Georgian facade of Leinster House and classical look of the neighbouring museum and library buildings. But a negative artistic review would soon enough be the least of the statue’s concerns. There would be further indignities.

Leinster House was chosen by the incoming Irish administration of 1922 to be the seat of the Irish legislature - where it remains to this day. Having just fought a war to gain Ireland’s independence from British shackles the parliament (Dail) of Ireland could not allow the embarrassing effigy of the monarch known in Ireland as the Famine Queen for her blind indifference to the plight of the Irish at that time under her reign - to remain in place. James Joyce castigated her as ‘The old Bitch’ in Ulysses, which also happened to be published in February 1922, on Joyce’s 40th birthday. While there was an appetite to get rid of her the cost of doing so and the myriad of social, economic and political problems facing the state meant it would be 25 years before was actually move. Interestingly both Britain and Canada had knocked back any suggestion or invitation to take the metal monarch. In 1933 Republican - and later Fine Gael - TD Grattan Esmond placed a large and elaborate bouquet of rotten vegetables at her feet by way of protests about the Irish government’s policies at the time about farming. Interestingly Esmonde - who campaigned for Sinn Fein in 1918 - had sailed to Australia in 1920 as a representative of the Irish government and had tried to land in Sydney but was denied permission to leave his ship. She was finally removed in 1948 when a newly elected government - which had a policy of pushing for Ireland to become

a full Republic - came into power. A crane hoisted the statue onto the back of a flatbed lorry and the spot became a carpark. The Irish Times carried this eye-witness account of her final removal: “As I watched, another workman appeared, clambering over her head, gripping her sometimes by the nose and occasionally sticking a finger into her disdainful eye. Perhaps it was just the effect of the glistening rain on the bright, green copper, but it seemed to me that the old lady - never exactly pleasant-looking at the best of times - was glaring about with loathing and disgust.” Just as she was unveiled to throngs of people just a few decades earlier, crowds turned out to watch her removal. A cartoon published at the time also captured the mood of change. The queen’s bronze effigy was first taken to Kilmainham Royal Hospital - which was then police headquarters - where she sat in the open air for decades. In early 1980 she was moved again, this time to a field at the back of a disused children’s home at Daingean, Co. Offaly where for three decades she grew a grimy coat. Her fall from Grace was complete. It would have been inconceivable to those who celebrated her unveiling at the gala ceremony in 1908 to forsee her demise to this pitiful state. But equally unlikely were the course of events that would ultimately restore her to something resembling her former glory.

The massive - and impressive - Queen Victoria Building (QVB) in Sydney was built between 1833 and 1898 when the city was in a deep recession, providing work and employment to thousands of labourers and craftspeople.

Over the years it had many uses (concert hall, warehouse, city library, city offices) and was even at risk of demolition in the late 1950’s. The architecturally outstanding structure - then THE IRISH SCENE | 27

a shopping mall underwent a massive renovation in the 1980’s and the owners wanted to install a statute of Queen Victoria at the entrance of the revamped centre. Neil Glasser, then director of promotions for the QVB was given the task of finding her. For three years he scoured the globe following up leads in more than 20 countries, looking everywhere the British Empire had touched. In his quest he did find examples of her sculptures which had also fallen out of favour, but getting permission to remove them proved insurmountable. Just as the search seemed to be mission impossible Glasser got word of the Victoria stuck in a field in the Irish midlands.

Five days later on a May day in 1986 he was standing beside her. “I looked upon the most magnificent, majestic, imposing and regal statue of Queen Victoria I had ever seen, “ he later told the Irish Times. In September of that year the statue was shipped - “transported” as the Irish papers took delight in reporting - to Australia. She was unveiled outside the QVB on December 20 1988 and almost exactly three years to the day since the abandoned bronze was plucked out of obscurity Queen Elizabeth II visited the site in May 1988. Glasser was given an honour in the Royal Victorian Order for his efforts. Then Taoiseach Garrett Fitzgerald happily authorised the “loan” of Victoria to Sydney as a “reminder of the permanent bond and friendship between our two countries”.

But not everyone was in favour of letting go of the royal relic. The head of National Museum of Ireland and then minister for finance John Bruton (and later Taoiseach) argued it was created by an Irish artist and was part of Ireland’s history and should stay in the country.

Queen Victoria’s talking dog it must be Blarney A talking dog provides another, lesser known Irish connection to the relocated royal. Very close to Victoria’s statute on Bicentennial Plaza is another smaller monument. It contains a 60 centimetre bronze statuette of a Cairn terrier called Islay, a favourite pet of the Queens. A recorded voice speaks to onlookers urging them to make a donation and make a wish, with the money going towards a charity for deaf and blind children.

If you look closely you will see what looks like a stone fastened to the memorial. The stone is in fact a small chunk taken from the battlements of Blarney Castle, and was and was probably added to the Islay statue in around 1987.

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A plaque on the pint sized shrine states: Blarney Castle Stone A stone from the Battlements of Blarney Castle.

A gift to the people of Sydney, from Alderman D. Wallace, T.D. Lord Mayor, and the people of Cork, through the courtesy of Sir Richard Colthurst, B.T. This is an edited version of a similar story that first appeared in the July/August 2020 edition of Irish Scene.

Simon Coveney

BY LLOYD GORMAN

Irish minister to visit Perth for St. Patrick’s Day

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ormer minister for foreign affairs Simon Coveney will be the Irish government representative visiting Australia for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Some 36 politicians, including the Taoiseach and Tanaiste as well as every minister (senior and junior) and other members of the executive will descend on 74 cities in 44 countries to spread good vibes about Ireland, mix it up with members of the diaspora and drum up new trading opportunities and relationships around the world.

For his part, Mr Coveney will visit Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth on this trip but quite when he will be in each of those cities was not known at time of going to press, hopefully that detail will become clearer closer to the time.

The Corkman has been in politics for some time now (first elected in 1998 in a by-election sparked by the death of his father Hugh) and has been a minister – and even Tanaiste – in various portfolios since then, starting out as minister for agriculture, food and the marine in 2011. He was the farm and food minister when he made his first St. Patrick’s Day trip to Australia in 2014, but only got as far as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and has been to quite a few different parts of the world as a member of government.

This time around Perth is on his whistle-stop tour.

Perhaps more than any other Australian city, Perth kept

popping up on his radar during his time as minister for foreign affairs from 2017 to 2022, particularly in the last two to three years.

He would have been involved, or at least fully aware, of the efforts by his Department and the Embassy in Canberra and others to arrange a plane full of doctors and nurses out of Perth, back to Ireland, right at the start of the COVID crisis.

In more recent times he has been asked in the Dail on a number of occasions about the prospect of upgrading Perth’s honorary consulate with a full time and permanent consulate general. After making some early comments that sounded like this might be possible Mr Coveney shot the idea down (Mission not possible for Perth, Irish Scene, Jan/Feb 2022). He has also been asked in the Irish parliament about the potential for an office of Enterprise Ireland (the semi-state agency that promotes overseas trade) to open in Perth. Sydney and Melbourne have one but Perth would not be getting one he said (Trade office doesn’t add up for Perth, Irish Scene, XXXXXX).

There has also been a lot of debate and discussion in the Dail about the hundreds of young Irish doctors, and nurses, escaping the hard pressed Irish healthcare and hospital system for better pay and conditions in Western Australia. It is a topic he is well acquainted with. He told the parliament that he has a brother who is a doctor, a surgeon in fact, who has lived and worked in Perth for some time now. So he has a personal connection to the place as well as everything else. Mr Coveney lost the foreign affairs gig in December last year as part of a cabinet reshuffle but was given another heavyweight job, as minister for enterprise, trade and employment.

Irish Scene would love the chance to interview Mr Coveney while he is in town. There is a lot of talk about and it is always interesting to hear directly from the top level of government what is going on. If there is a question or subject you would like Irish Scene to put to the minister please text (0479047250) or email it to irishsceneperth@gmail.com.

THE IRISH SCENE | 29

St Bridgids Festival

St Bridgids Festival

JFK receives traditional bowl of shamrock from Ambassador Kiernan- 1962

WA featured in JFK St Patrick’s Day message of hope

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onsidering he was America’s first ever Irish Catholic American President John F Kennedy’s first St Patrick’s Day in the White House in 1961 was a tad haphazard.

“Archives [from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library] reveal that at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 17, 1961 Ireland’s ambassador, Thomas J. Kiernan, made his nation’s annual pilgrimage to the Oval Office to present the ceremonial bowl of shamrock to the 32 | THE IRISH SCENE

President,” the website of Irish Boston History & Heritage said.

Today the friendly gesture is an established fixture on the political and PR calendar but back then it was still a new concept at the time, having only started in 1958. It was around this time that regular Aer Lingus flights from Ireland to the US meant plenty of fresh shamrock could be flown in for the ceremony.

The President greeted Ambassador Kiernan and was happy to accept the bowl of shamrock and a beautifully drawn scroll with the Kennedy coat of arms, created by the skilled hand of the chief herald of Ireland, Gerard Slevin. As part of the performance and presentation the Irish diplomat also recited a 15th century poem about an Irish man called O’Cinneidigh (Kennedy).

Boston Globe reporter Robert Healy wrote about the encounter. “Apparently Mr. Kennedy didn’t remember it was St. Patrick’s Day, for before the Irish Ambassador arrived at the White House the staff had to dig up a green tie for the president,” Mr Healy wrote.

“John “Muggsie” O’Leary of Somerville, who

drove the president when he was a senator and is now a member of the White House Secret Service, produced a soft green tie for the president.”

In fairness to JFK he could probably be forgiven for the transgression. He had only been sworn in as president on January 20 and would have been wrestling with the demands of the top job. But he would not be caught out again. When March 17 rolled around the following year he was ready for the special day and to receive the traditional bowl of shamrock. He also issued a message for St. Patrick’s Day, see below, in which Western Australia featured prominently.

Statement of President Kennedy on St. Patrick’s Day, 1962 The observance of St. Patrick’s Day is almost as old in America as the Irish themselves, and some say they arrived in the sixth century. It is a day of stirring memories, recalling ancient learning and primal abundance - - for as often related, at a time when the inhabitants of a nearby island were still living on acorns, all the people in Roscommon had the gout!

It is a day of dedication as well, as purely American as it is Irish, recalling for all that ours is a nation founded, sustained, and now preserved in the cause of liberty. None more than the Irish can attest the power of that cause once it has gripped a nation’s soul.

It is well to love liberty, for it demands much of those who would live by it. Liberty is not content to share mankind.

John Boyle O’Reilly, who came to Boston by way of a penal colony in Western Australia, understood this as few men have. “Freedom,” he wrote, “is more than a resolution - he is not free who is free alone.”

To those who in our time have lost their freedom, or who through the ages have never won it, there is a converse to this message. No one - - in the darkest cell, the remotest prison, under the most unyielding tyranny - - is every entirely lost in bondage while there are yet free men in the world. And this be our faith, let it also be our pride - - and to all who share it, I send the greetings of this day.

John F. Kennedy THE IRISH SCENE | 33

St Patrick’s Day 1968 New York

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left home at the age of seventeen to live in Brooklyn with an uncle and aunt. I now call it the declaration of independence. I grew restless at an early age at home, this restlessness would stay with me to this day.

The plane from Cork landed in Kennedy airport. My first thought was, “God, to have an airport named after you”. My uncle Willie had a hat box filled with Irish sausages, bacon and black and white pudding. We were called over by customs. The custom officer said: “I bet you twenty dollars there is not a hat in that hat box!”. My Uncle Willie pulled out a twenty-dollar bill, handed it to the agent and said: “You won that bet!”.

That’s the way it was then, everyone was corrupt.

It was February and it was cold. I had never witnessed such cold as I walked out of the airport, but there was a warm wind blowing within the adventure of my life, so I didn’t really feel the cold. Later in March, Uncle Willie suggested on St Patrick’s Day that I take the subway into Manhattan.

‘Manhattan’, I had only known from the old movies my Dad brought me to for he was a great movie fan of James Cagney Spencer Tracy etc. So now here I was alone taking the double RR local train from Bay Ridge Brooklyn into Manhattan.

I wrote a letter ‘Dear Dad, I am now about to go to Manhattan, wish you were here’. The train was packed with people dressed in green: Puerto Ricans were dressed like leprechauns, African Americans became ‘black Irishmen’. It was such a proud pure joy to be truly Irish that day. I got off the train and ascended into a heavenly

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parade of bagpipes and trumpets blowing and it seemed like every flag from every county of Ireland was flying. There were thousands of people in the streets. Banners were waved.

Marching bands

BY NOEL O’NEILL one after the other. My heart was full and the whole extravaganza brought tears to my eyes. The pubs were open and selling corned beef and cabbage. The lines were endless. I watched Bobby Kennedy go by in a convertible. ‘God J.F.K.’s brother’.

My uncle had two pictures on the wall in his living room, one was of Pope John XXIII and the other was John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

They were gods on earth and now I had seen one of those gods, brother. Mayor Lindsay passed and waved but people were shouting

and swearing at him, why, I was too young and too new in the country to understand. But the day was filled with music and love, and I could only imagine the foundations and the buildings that were built by the Irish. There was an old saying back in Ireland ‘the streets of New York were paved in gold’…but it took the Irish to dig that gold only to find that all that glittered wasn’t gold. But they succeeded, they became policemen, politicians, they Bobby Kennedy caused a stir at the 1968 in New York having just declared he would had come from less run for President of the United States and had proceeded to become more than anything they had imagined. They had made the American dream come true. After the sunset and after I had indulged in the whole St Patrick’s Day event (For I had never witnessed anything like it in my life) I boarded the subway train home where I could hear someone singing amidst the crowds ‘Oh Danny Boy’. There was a hush as the day ended, there was a unity in everyone, there FROM 6PM was a day I will never forget.

TUESDAYS

at the Woody

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PIE & PINT PINTS OF NIGHT GUINNESS

IRISH MUSIC

SESSION 7-11pm Woodbridge Hotel 50 EAST STREET, GUILDFORD

Patrolman Terry Connaughton from Athlone, Co. Roscommon – had the honour of blowing the whistle to start the 206th NY St Patricks Day parade.

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woodbridgehotel.com.au THE IRISH SCENE | 35

Cork and New York

Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) covered the St. Patrick’s Day Parades in New York and Cork – Noel’s home town – in the same news item on March 17, 1968. Reporter Mike Burns had the plum job of reporting on the event in America, while his colleague Robin O’Sullivan (a good Cork name) of covered the domestic procession. Irish New York cop – patrolman Terry Connaughton from Athlone, Co. Roscommon – had the honour of blowing the whistle to start the 206th NY St Patricks Day parade, the biggest demonstration of its type in the world, consisting of 125,000 in the parade itself, 150 bands and countless floats and vehicles. Between one and three million people turned out to see it while another four

36 | THE IRISH SCENE

million watched it on TV. One of the star attractions of the grand event was the arrival of Democratic Party Presidential hopeful, Senator Robert Kennedy, who had just declared his candidacy for the top job prevoiusly held by his late brother held, earlier that morning. Kennedy stepped out of the procession to meet and greet Archbishop Terence Cooke on the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in front of a crush of reporters and cameras. Cooke – who had just became Archbishop of New York – was born in the city, to parents from County Galway. Cooke – one of three children – was named Terence in honour of the Lord

Mayor of Cork Terence MacSwiney, who died on hunger strike during the Irish War of Independence. The late Archbishop is also in the running to become elevated to the sacred position of Saint!

Meanwhile, back in Cork at least one ‘float’ in the 100 strong parade procession paid tribute to the aspirations of Senator Robert Kennedy. A large truck carried a hand painted sign with the message: “USA bound to lift Robert Kennedy to Whitehouse”. No doubt then about where the political loyalties of many Corkonians – and many Irish – lay.

A once in a lifetime St. Patrick’s Day

L

ong term Padbury resident and Limerick native Bob O’Connor said he has only ever seen one St. Patrick’s Day parade in his 83 years on the face of the planet. He recalls that event here in his own words. “I emigrated to New York in November 1958,” he said. I was selected by the family to go there. I managed to get a job within a week, I was a gofer at Equitable Life Insurance in the old Stafford Hilton hotel in the middle of New York, where they had offices. Anyway, I survived the winter there, which was very very cold and ended up seeing the first and only St. Patrick’s Day in New York (that I’ve ever seen) in 1959. So I went off to see that, they had bleachers (seated viewing platforms) on the east side of Central Park, at the top city end of Central Park, and I managed to get a seat there. I was about four or five rows back looking down on the parade and the parade went on and on and on. There were regiments from here, and regiments from there, army, navy and airforce, there were all the county associations with their own banners and they were marching as well.

But my everlasting memory of it was there

were two very attractive African American ladies walked right past me and they had their hair dyed green for the day. It was cold, even though I was all rugged up and after about three or four hours I went back to the relatives where I was staying in downtown Manhattan and watched the rest of it on television. I would reckon it went for about six or seven hours and from memory they used to paint in those days the white line down the middle of Fifth Avenue green for the day. And that’s my memories of the place.”

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THE IRISH SCENE | 37

From The Office to the Oval Office for St. Patrick’s Day

F

ans of good comedy will know, and no doubt love, Ricky Gervais’s genius hit show The Office. The American version – perhaps even superior to the original – is set in the Scranton, Pennsylvania and has the occasional jokes and reference to the city’s Irish community.

If NYC has the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world, then Scranton claims to have the next biggest one in the country. Scanton locals even like to argue that in relative population terms their event even eclipses the massive procession in the Big Apple.

Set this year to be held on Saturday March 11 “Parade Day”, the Scranton parade is expected to have more than 12,000 participants and streets swelled with onlookers many times that number.

There is a good reason why there is such massive local support for the event, held each year – since 1962 – the weekend before March 17.

American president Joe Biden has estimated that 75% of Scrantonians and people in the surrounding areas in northeastern Pennsylvania have Irish roots.

There is some dispute around that claim but he should know, he is one of them, a proud son of Scranton, as well of Ireland.

In his official White House St. Patrick’s Day event last year with Taoiseach Michael

38 | THE IRISH SCENE

Martin – and some of Biden’s Irish relations – President Biden spoke about the deep links between America and Ireland, and his Irish roots.

“It’s been more than 165 years since our [referring to his cousins in the room] greatgreat-grandparents left County Mayo and County Louth aboard a coffin ship to cross the Atlantic,” President Biden said. “And the Blewitts and Finnegans eventually settled in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where my grandparents — where my parents met and married. And that’s where my mom, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan, was born and later, as I said, met Joseph Robinette Biden, the Sr. His saving grace was his mother was a Hanafee — his mother’s side, they had a Hanafee from Galway. That saved him in the family. That saved him up in Scranton...Our mom used to have an expression, “As long as you’re alive, you have an obligation to strive.

And you’re not dead until you’ve seen the face of God.” And she meant it. Well, in my view, that’s the Irish of it. And hope is what brought us — the Irish American kid all the way from Scranton to the White House. And with a lifetime of history of hoping comes the deep understanding of what our nations and our people can accomplish. Hope was what brought us here.”

Joe Biden also said that around the same time – just five weeks apart – his greatgreat grandfather (Owen Finnegan) a shoemaker boarded a coffin ship in 1844 another shoemaker called Joseph Kearny from Moneygall arrived in American on another coffin ship. “That was President Obama’s great-great-grandfather,” the president said. They were both shoemakers from not far from one another and he speculated it was “not improbable” the two might have even known each other through their trade.

“They left everything behind, like all of your relatives, for an uncertain future,” Mr Biden said. “But I wonder, in all of their dreams, whether they could’ve ever dreamt that their two great-greatgrandsons of shoemakers from Ireland would be sworn in as Presidents of the United States of America. I wonder. It’s not about me. It’s not about Barack. It’s about hope. Think about it.

But again, as my grandpop would say, “That’s the Irish of it.”

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Vale Sister Maureen Moynihan pbvm

O

n Sunday 19 February 2023, Sister Maureen Moynihan pbvm (formerly (Sister Kevin) peacefully returned home to her loving God. Born in Cullen, County Cork, Sister Maureen came to Perth from Ireland and dedicated her life to serving God and the people of Western Australia. Sister Maureen was a special light in the lives of so many. A woman of strong character, faith, and Christian witness, she was deeply committed to her religious vocation and being of service to God and others. Having made a significant contribution to Catholic Education in regional and metropolitan Western Australia over her years, Sister Maureen is especially remembered for her tenure as Principal of St Thomas Catholic Primary School in Claremont (1974-1976, 1982 – 1984) and Iona Presentation Junior School (1985 – 2008).

As Principal of St Thomas’ Catholic Primary School, Sister Maureen wholeheartedly modelled the inclusion and compassion of Jesus as she welcomed and advocated for the refugees and migrants arriving in Perth at that time.

When Sister Maureen received a call to assist in providing a Catholic education for these students, firstly at St Thomas, before guiding their future pathways into Iona Presentation College and John XXIII College, she did so without hesitation, clothing, feeding, transporting, and educating. In speaking with Sister Maureen, she recalls these acts as some of her greatest achievements. At Iona Presentation College Junior School during her twenty-four years as Principal, Sister Maureen was the cornerstone of the community. She knew every student and family, made a special effort to learn about the intricacies of one’s life and excelled in building a welcoming and positive school community. She saw the positive in all people, encouraged growth and an open mind and always sought first to understand. Her approach to leadership had an immeasurable influence on her staff; some of who are still working at the College today and whom she regarded as dear friends.

Throughout her time as Principal in both communities, she was a strong advocate for inclusion, caring for children with special needs and adopted an integrated approach to education. A woman who trusted the 42 | THE IRISH SCENE

professionalism and experience of her team, she held her staff to the highest regard and did her utmost to support them personally and professionally. Fostering a nurturing, positive Catholic community in which every child’s dignity was respected, Sister created school cultures rich in compassion. Sister’s own family in Ireland were so important to her, and hence, the school cultures emulated a strong sense of family – giving, receiving, loving, and forgiving.

In her later years, she dedicated a significant amount of time to Prayer ministry. She continued to be a great source of spiritual comfort for generations of past students, colleagues, and friends. Her ability to be able to share a story or offer some wise words of wisdom when facing the challenges of life will be sorely missed.

Sister Maureen imparted so many valuable life lessons to her students over the years; many of which are still practiced today. Her impact was profound, and she was dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus with all whom she encountered. She had an enormous pastoral heart, especially in caring for those with the least options.

We celebrate Sister Maureen for her strong Christian witness and leadership, her firm belief in the power of a Catholic education, her genuine care for those in need, and her devotion to the loving pastoral care of members of the Catholic communities to whom she ministered.

In our Catholic educational communities, we are increasingly mindful that we stand on the shoulders of the giants who have come before us; Sister Maureen was one of those giants. With her significant legacy, she has paved a foundation for educators to continue promoting outstanding pastoral care, nourishing advocates of justice and inclusion and being a gift of ‘presence’ to all whom we encounter, all inspired by the compassion and love of Jesus. Farewell loving and kindhearted, Sister Maureen; you fought the good fight, you ran the race, you kept the faith.

May God continue to hold you in the palm of His hand.

Author/contributor/supplied: Gemma Thomson

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hen Dublin singer songwriter Eddie Sherlock heard about an elderly Aboriginal woman who plays Irish

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tunes on an old squeezebox, he knew there was a song there he wanted to write. Eddie will make his first ever trip outside of Europe to come to Perth to play his newly- penned ballad for Hand in Hand, Kidogo’s Irish Aboriginal Festival this month.

Artistic director of the festival, Irish-born Joanna Robertson had contacted Eddie to invite him to the festival and asked him to write a new ballad. “The festival is about seeking out and telling the untold, good stories of our shared history,” said Joanna, who offered Eddie the as-yet-untold story of Dr Edgar Noel Bateman. Edgar was one of six sons from a wealthy Kerry family, who studied at Trinity College. He came to Western

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Australia in 1914 and immediately joined the army to fight in Egypt during World War I. After the war, he returned to WA and established a hospital in Northampton specialising in lung diseases. He met and fell in love with an Aboriginal midwife and had two children with her. The children were later sent to Moore River and Edgar, shunned and isolated for his inappropriate marriage, moved down to Mt Barker Hospital. Shortly after his transfer, he died of the TB, the very disease he had specialised in, and was buried in an unmarked grave.

Meanwhile his father had created The All Ireland Bateman Rugby Cup in honour of two of his sons who had been killed during WWI, but no one knew of Edgar and his half- Aboriginal daughter with her Irish-red hair. Eddie said: “I couldn’t get out of my head the idea that there is an Aboriginal woman who grew up with the songs of her dad’s homeland. “I imagined the good doctor dreaming of his homeland, dancing around the kitchen and singing Irish songs with his little girl.” Over a weekend Eddie researched a lot, made a few scribbles over not a few pints, and then sat down on the Monday morning and crafted the entire ballad in one go. It’s called Cailin Rua (Girl with the Red Hair) and tells the story of the scandalous love affair and a dark-skinned girl with red hair who dances in her dreams. “It is a long ballad running to almost seven minutes,” Eddie said. “But there wasn’t anything about this story that I could take out, so feck it, I’ll have to play the whole thing!” After a couple of years of intense COVID lock-downs across Ireland, he admitted that the effects of the pandemic eventually took their toll on his playing. He couldn’t play with his popular folk band, The Rattling Kind, but said he “started out by banging out a few tunes at the bottom

of of people’s gardens”. But after the fourth lock-down, he lost heart, put down the guitar and didn’t touch it for a couple of months.

When he did eventually pick it up again, he forced himself into playing by setting himself up in his kitchen in north Dublin, to play live on Facebook every Friday evening.

Out of that came his latest hit, King of the Road. Eddie will be hitting the road shortly to come to the three-day Hand in Hand Festival, playing alongside Manchán Magan, poet Tony Curtis, multimedia artist Stano, David Milroy, Fiona Rea, Della Rae Morrison and many more, playing new music, telling untold stories and bringing together Australia’s Irish heritage with WA's celebrated Indigenous artists.

Hand in Hand Kidogo Irish Aboriginal Festival performs at Kidogo Arthouse, Bathers Beach, Fremantle from March 17 to 19. For details and tickets, go to kidogo.com.au/kiaf.

THE IRISH SCENE | 45

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Pipeline is owned by Proud Roscommon man Mr. Gay Collins who immigrated to Perth in 1986 with his wife Martina. Now with their four children all who work in the company Jack, Luke Owen and Daughter Kate they employ 150 employees and manage over 200 Items of plant in a very busy Civil Engineering industry based in Perth and working all over WA. Pipeline Technics was started in 2010 with 5 employees and has grown dramatically over the past few years. Working in the Mining industry and in all the major infrastructure projects in Metro and surrounding areas.

The growth is thanks to the best, most hardworking, reliable and loyal team who make up the core of the organisation. All the guys who started with Pipeline in 2010 are still working here. Although there is a large contingent of Irish employees (both men and women )we do have great variety of workers from Scotland, England, Crotia, Australia, Roscommon and Donegal.

We are always happy to employ new emigrants to Australia, To date we have sponsored approximately 70 individuals and families into WA, and at present sponsor over 30 employees for Residency. We also Sponsor the GAA and especially Greenwood Gaelic football men and women’s team, The WA state GAA team, Shamrock Caramar Soccer teams and glad to be involved in this years St Patricks Day parade.

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Message from Irish Ambassador H.E. Tim Mawe

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig ar Ghaeil is cairde Gael I Gcumann Lansdún. Guím gach rath agus séan ar gach éinne atá ag ceiliúradh na Féile i mbliana.

As we face into Saint Patrick’s Day, it is tempting to feel that things are back to normal after the fierce disruption of COVID. And in many ways we are. So normal in fact that a full programme of celebratory events are taking place in Perth and all over Australia in what promises to be an exuberant and funfilled programme.

I hope that all the readers of Irish Scene support the many events, large and small, around Perth and that you take the opportunity to connect with the Irish community in WA and that you also connect with Ireland itself.

2023 is an important year for Ireland.

In a neat symmetry, it marks 100 years since the new Irish state joined the League of Nations; 50 years since we joined the European Union (né EEC) and 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement. That national characteristic of looking outwards and looking to make things better through cooperation and negotiation is the underlying theme for the global celebration of St. Patrick’s Day this year, summarised as “100 years of Ireland in the World.

Australia is one of our oldest partners and closest friends. Our relations are built on the massive contribution that Irish people have made to the building of this country and the tremendous opportunities that Australia has offered 48 | THE IRISH SCENE

Ireland over centuries. This is recognised by the Irish government who have agreed that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D should visit Australia to join the St. Patrick’s Day events across the country. With a programme that also includes a visit to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra, I am delighted that the Minister can this year cross the border into WA and join the Irish community in Perth.

While it is always good to look back, we should also look ahead. And coming down the tracks pretty soon is a soccer world cup in Australia, with Irish participation. I’m not claiming bragging rights (maybe just a little), but as far as I can recall, the first women’s international soccer match I attended was as far back as 1986 against Northern Ireland. Played in Belfast, the entire squad, management and supporters were accommodated in a single coach.

And having regard to the times that were in it, the security presence in the ground outnumbered the total number of spectators present.

We have a come a long way since then.

We now have the prospect of Ireland playing all across Australia and in front of a global TV audience. Their second game, in Perth, is likely to be crucial in determining how deeply they will go in the tournament. Let’s support our team and let’s use the presence in Australia of the Irish squad to show Australia what the Ireland of 2023 is really like.

Here in Australia, all of Team Ireland will do what we can to support our continued progress and development on whatever pitch we play. I wish to acknowledge my colleagues from Enterprise Ireland; IDA Ireland; Tourism Ireland; our Consulate General in Sydney, and especially our Honorary Consul Marty Kavanagh and his team in Perth, as well as the embassy team in Canberra for their continued focus on delivery, for their enthusiasm and for their service to the Irish community here in Australia.

I also wish to offer my thanks to all the organisers of St Patrick’s Day events in WA for your commitment and your resilience. It is indeed heartening to see so much going on and I am sure that your efforts are really valued by the Irish community.

As we make our way forward through conditions that are not yet fully normal, I am confident that the future for Ireland in Australia remains bright and that we will continue to go from strength to strength together.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh, is nár laga sibh.

The Irish singer-songwriter who is best known for his song’s Hit The Diff and Slip The Clutch and has been making waves across Ireland and the UK with his eclectic blend of country - rock and folk and is already gaining more and more fans across the globe. He hits Badlands on Thursday 15th June.

Hermitage Green are an Irish acoustic folk rock band. Formed in July 2010, the band primarily feature on the Limerick music scene. They have toured in Ireland, the UK, and Australia. They bring their unique sound to Badlands on St Pat’s Day weekend Sunday 19th March.

After a sell out show last year The Lost Backpackers return once more to Badlands for an epic night of Irish tunes, sing alongs, party hits, dancing and general banter on Saturday 15th April!

THE IRISH SCENE | 49

G’day from Gary Gray AUSTRALIA’S AMBASSADOR IN IRELAND Stay up to date with what’s happening in the Australian Embassy, Ireland by following:

@ausembire

Australian Embassy, Ireland

@AusEmbIre

Coalition of the brave: Ambassador Gray and Tom Keneally

50 | THE IRISH SCENE

Embassy in Ireland joined by a Wizard of Oz This year has started off with a characteristically busy period as we prepared for our annual Australia Day celebrations. So close to the turn of the New Year, it naturally operates as an opportunity to reflect on the year that has been. 2022 was a year of achievement, change and turbulence; we saw more Irish women than ever swell the ranks of the Women’s AFL competition, bringing speed, skill and aggression to Australian sporting fields. We saw Australia get to the final 16 in the FIFA World Cup and we enjoyed the Australian women’s cricket team visit to Ireland. Our rugby team met its match and were beaten by a magnificent Irish squad which must surely now be eyeing up this year’s Rugby World Cup while Aussie music tours from Spacey Jane, Gang of Youths, King Gizzard and Crowded House all arrived and Australian/New Zealand actor Russell Crowe came to town.

The New Year brought news of another impending arrival in the form of Booker Prize winner, Thomas Kenneally AO. Thomas is, of course, the author of Schindler’s Ark, a book which was later made into the movie Schindler’s List (1993), earning Steven Spielberg his first Best Director Oscar. As any who know him will understand, Tom (as he prefers to be known) has been immensely busy since arriving. Tom walks 10km every day and like many writers before him, has found time to take a dip at the famous South Dublin bathing spot, the 40 Foot. For this, Ambassador Gray found himself in a coalition of the brave, swimming in the freezing January sea.

Now that Tom’s heartrate was rejigged, Tom took himself off to Dunboyne National School to talk to the 5th and 6th class kids who read and explored the important themes from Schindler’s Ark. As has become tradition now at the Embassy, there was time on the trip to stop in with Australian coffee roaster, Brock Lewin of Badger and Dodo. Brock and his team have been the unofficial, official coffee supplier for the Embassy since 2020 and it is always a pleasure to stop in when we’re out on the road.

G’DAY FROM GARY GRAY From this point all attention turned towards Australia Day. Every year, the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce host a large gathering with 2023 representing the return of this event. No restrictions, no social distancing and no face masks were required as people enjoyed again the pleasure of meeting in large groups and socialising with peers and like-mindeds.

Tom and his wife Judy were present as was Gary, his partner Pippa and others from the Embassy team as Aussies from around Ireland booked out Croke Park’s main conference room.

Following Australia Day Tom had a few small matters to attend: meeting An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar and An Uachtaráin, Michael D. Higgins as well as continuing research into his latest book. Tom is renowned across the world for his literary achievements and it seemed an easy decision for many to meet and speak with him during his visit Tom is in Ireland researching for an upcoming project on his own family lineage and has spent a lot of his spare time in Cork, speaking to local experts, family connections and historians. He has been busy visiting Ireland’s National Archives gathering snippets of lost history.

As we prepare for his departure, attention naturally turns to St. Patrick’s Day. Readers in Australia may be interested to learn that Simon Coveney TD, Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment will be travelling to Australia for celebrations this year.

Minister Coveney who is the former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence (2017-2022) is part of a 36-person Irish plan to visit 74 cities in 44 countries!

Minister Coveney will visit Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth as he cements the bilateral relationship between these two islands which continues to grow and strengthen. For full details on dates and timings, make sure to keep an eye on the full programme from the Irish Embassy in Canberra and official Irish government sources.

At home here in Ireland, we’ll be celebrating what will be our second national holiday of the year, following the inaugural celebration of St. Brigid’s Day on February 1st 2023 – the first-ever celebration of a woman in the Irish calendar. As we prepare for another year of engagement, friendship and fun here on the Emerald Isle, we hope all Down Under enjoy St. Patrick’s Day responsibly and have a wonderful 2023.

Brock and Tom Keneally celebrate the joy of coffee (above).

Australia Day luncheon: [L-R] Pippa, Judy, Tom Keneally, Ambassador Gray and Senator Malcolm Byrne.

Tom Keneally meets with Ireland’s President, Michael D. Higgins.

Tom Keneally and his partner Judy at Ireland’s National Archives.

THE IRISH SCENE | 51

MARTIN KAVANAGH

HON CONSUL OF IRELAND

It’s that time of the year again when the world focuses on Ireland and the Irish.

How lucky we are that for the most part the world sees us a friendly, hard-working, artistic, and innovative people. I hope that here in Western Australia you enjoy the celebrations and take pride in being Irish.

It’s great to see the St Patrick’s Festival back after the prolonged covid break. I’m sure all members of our community appreciate the hard work and selfless efforts of the enthusiastic volunteers involved and I encourage you to support this wonderful festival.

At this time our thoughts inevitably turn to Ireland and our Irish connections. Despite modern communications the geographic distance between WA and Ireland will always remain. However, we Irish look after our own. Please keep an eye out for those who may have recently arrived who may particularly miss home on St Patrick’s.

I am very pleased to welcome Minister Simon Coveney TD to Perth this year. We are delighted to have such a senior minister (and Cork man) in Australia to meet the Irish community and to advance Ireland’s interests in Australia.

We are a nation of migrants. On this our special time it is worth recognising the generosity of the Irish people who have taken so many migrants from Ukraine into their homes and their hearts. For a small country like Ireland to welcome more than 74,000 people is no small achievement and something we should all take pride in.

On behalf of the Irish community in Western Australia, may I thank the Claddagh and all our voluntary organisations who do so much to care for our community. My thanks to Ambassador Tim Mawe and the team at our embassy in Canberra and also to Lynda and Yvonne at the Honorary Consulate in Perth. Richard and I wish one and all a Happy St Patrick’s Day. Brannachtai Na Feile Padraig.

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W

hatever hope of help the people of Turkey living in the affected earthquake areas have the situation across the border in Syria is infintely worse.

International aid and support from friendly countries (Iran/Iraq and Russia) has been allowed into Syria but in the immediate aftermath of the natural disaster Darryl Hunt when it was needed the most not a single blanket, tent or supplies of badly needed food, water and medicines or rescue teams were allowed into the equally hard hit regions of the country under rebel control, courtesy of the brutal Assad dictatorship.

But at least one organisation is doing its utmost to try and help these people who have been abandoned by the rest of the world and that desperate effort is being led by Limerick (Moyross) man Fr Tony O’Riordan SJ. “If we were in hell before the earthuqake, we’re now in the deepest levels of hell,” Fr O’Riordan, director of the Irish Jesuits International (IJI) said. “What’s even more impactful, like a weapon of mass destruction, is the citywide loss of sense of safety.”

When the quake hit in the early hours of February 6 as most people were asleep in bed , including Tony and his fellow Jesuits.

“The community of three Jesuits in Aleppo fled their house after the first earthquake and joined the other residents outside in the freezing cold through Monday night,” the IJI website stated. “Many houses have collapsed and Tony says people are refusing to return to their homes out of fear of other earthquakes.

The Jesuits have opened up their building in Aziziyé to people looking for shelter as it is a well-built house. Other Jesuit Refugee Service staff in Syria report significant damage in Aleppo, with collapsed or uninhabitable hospitals, lack of electricity, and broken or 56 | THE IRISH SCENE

very difficult connections. People are shaken and frightened, they say, as they reaffirm that JRS “Remains in solidarity with the people of Syria who have long been suffering because of the war and socio-economic consequences, with millions of displaced people. As the weight of multiple traumas makes the future seem daunting, we pray that the Syrian people may soon find healing and peace.”

Using social media Fr Tony is providing daily updates from the disaster zone and spear heading the IJI fundraising campaign (www.iji. ie/donate-now/) He has been in Syria since 2020 and is exactly the kind of person anyone would be lucky to have in their corner. Before Syria, he was based in South Sudan. His contribution to the community and the organisation there was enormous said Noelle Fitzpatrick, Country Director, JRS South Sudan at his going away bash.

“On average, two nights a week every week Fr Tony was called from his bed in the middle of the night to drive a member of the host community to hospital. In Maban where a 7pm curfew applies for security reasons this is not an obvious gesture, it is a supremely courageous and compassionate one. Every Easter and Christmas Season Fr Tony was extended to the limits of his physical energies to help deliver liturgies to the parish and its many outstations. Some of these outstations are only accessible by long journeys on foot and across the river. In July and October 2019 Fr Tony steered JRS Maban and all the staff to safety following two significant episodes of flooding which caused widespread devastation. Our staff in Maban told me many stories of his efforts during that time.

How he counted and recounted staff at the gate before relocating them to the UNHCR compound for greater safety. In the days and

weeks that followed the severe October flooding he made sure that all local staff had access to some support from JRS to get back on their feet after their own homes were badly damaged or washed away. I am not sure, but I think it was Fr Tony who introduced the Connect 4 board game to the team in Maban. Soon, it became a craze amongst our staff there, and he lugged a massive sack of Connect 4 games back from Ireland to make sure each staff member got the gift of a game to bring home to their families as they went on Christmas leave.

Under Fr Tony’s leadership the JRS compound in Maban, was transformed to cater to approximately 40 staff. Over the space of two years informal showers, dining hall and living areas have been replaced with more suitable and longer lasting structures. In this effort the safety and wellbeing of our staff in Maban was also greatly enhanced. Fr Tony was architect, project manager and quantity surveyor rolled into one on the initial stages of some of these buildings! He battled snakes and shoddy workmanship to get the job done and done well. In Maban away from the river hardly a blade of grass can be seen for long stretches of the year, dust storms are a constant, oranges and apples come as a luxury. It is not for the faint-hearted and Fr Tony definitely is not faint of heart!.”

Before his missionary work in Sudan Fr Tony was parish priest at Corpus Christi Church in the economically deprieved area of Moyross, Limerick.

He came to national attention in Ireland when he courageously spoke out in his Sunday sermongs against the local drug gangs that grew rich on the back of imporverished communities. He also blasted the government and authorities for failing to help poor communities – such as his parish – to emerge from extreme poverty and high levels of unemployment and a lack of educational opportunities. “So Sunday’s gospel is going to be about the rich man in his magnificent palace, and poor old Lazarus outside the rich man’s wall,” Fr Tony told the Irish Times in 2016. “The rich man is condemned to hell again. But the rich man this week is not the drug dealer – he is the wealthy and powerful in Irish society who stand by and do nothing. The rich man didn’t do anything to Lazarus, and he wasn’t the cause of Lazarus’s pain, but he didn’t respond to his pain. All it takes for evil to thrive is for good people to do nothing.

That’s my message to the Taoiseach and to this fragile government.”

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Cottesloe & the Costello’s

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here were two big events in Cottesloe on February 25.

Hundreds of very fit folk took to the waters off the area’s iconic beach for the annual Rottnest Island swim. Fair play and congratulations to every one of them for completing or at least attempting the nearly 20km challenge!

The second event also marked a major milestone as Paddy Costello and his wife Lena celebrated his 96th birthday, joined by some forty family members and friends in the Blue Duck restaurant, with beautiful views of the area. Paddy took to his feet to give a speech recognising his daughters for organising the bash, other loved ones and friends, including one who has been a good mate since 1951. On the side he told me about how back in the early 1990’s – when Alan Bond owned the place – he had some fairly wild parties there, with up to a hundred people taking part. Paddy and Lena have much to be proud about as a couple and family unit but they are also as a landmark in the Irish community in Perth since the 1950’s when they traded life in Galway for a new life here.

Amongst their many accomplishments they are founding members of the Irish Club, an institution which continues to this day, and also getting the St. Patrick’s Day mass up and Join Oliver McNerney Saturdays 3-5pm

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running at St. Jospeh’s Catholic Church in Subiaco decades ago, another tradition which is still with us! Talking of St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 is their wedding anniversary and this year they will celebrate 67 years of married life and they always look forward to the big occasion. Irish Scene – and no doubt many others – would like to wish Paddy and Lena a happy birthday and happy anniversary and to say a big thank you for everything.

In the market for a good time in Melbourne Irish Scene publishers Lloyd and Imelda Gorman and their kids got to Melbourne for about ten days in late January/early February to catch up with family on that side of Australia.

Simultaneously but separately Fred Rea and Tony Costa from Perth also happened to be in town all at the same time but attempts at catching up proved to be too tricky.

But Irish Scene did cross paths with these lads who used to live in Perth but had moved to Victoria about ten months earlier. We met them in the Drunken Poet, surely one of the best Irish pubs in Australia, or just anywhere! It was a big night out for all of us and details and names were scribbled on a piece of paper that went missing in action, so the best I can do is publish

their picture and perhaps someone who knows them can get in touch and let me know who they are (irishsceneperth@gmail.com) so we can give them due recognition. I recall some ribbing and debate between the lads about one of them being a lollypop woman!

The live music on the night were partners Dan Webster & Emily Lawler who rocked the pub and churned out quite a few popular Irish hits for an appreciative audience. It was the last night of an Australian tour for Dan and Emily – who are from the UK – and they went out with a bang. The Drunken Poet – owned and operated by Kilkenny woman Siobhan Dooley – is just across the road from the main entrance to the famous Victoria Market and should be a pit stop for anyone who enjoys a great pub. The only food you will get there are crisps, nuts or a cheese and ham toasties, but you will not find a better pub toastie anywhere!

Kenmare Kinship Another piece of paper with names and some important details handed to Irish Scene editor went AWOL recently. There

was a happy meeting of kindred spirits at the Irish Seniors Lunch in the Irish Club in February. Finn and Joan O’Connell were in Perth until recently for a three month trip to see their two sons and a grandchild here. This was their fourth visit and they always have a great time Down Under visiting friends, including Oliver McInerney and his wife Stella.

Finn gave a couple of recitals at the seniors lunch but there was another treat in-store for one Perth couple who regularly attend the monthly function. Noreen, pictured here with husband Tom Glynn, and Finn and Joan has family roots in Kenmare but she has never met anyone from there, until now. They were able to compares notes about the locality and the people who live there and it turns out they know many of the same people.

Noreen and Tom are also the parents of Fr Vincent Glynn, who will be the

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celebrant for this years’s St. Patrick’s Day mass in Subiaco. Meanwhile, another seniors lunch regular Paddy Cannon also got up on stage and sang. Paddy – who was a child migrant and spent 60 years trying to find out about his family, something he finally managed to achieve just a few years ago.

He grabs every opportunity to share and enjoy his time with family and friends, including those pictured here.

Costa in Canberra Tony Costa, former mayor of Subiaco, was in Canberra for St. Valentine’s Day for another very special reason. Dr. Margaret Humphreys, the director and founder of the Child Migrants Trust (CMT) was invested as an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Australian capital.

“I am extremely honoured to receive this award,” Dr Humphreys said about the honour. “It is another step on the long road to recognition for all that former UK child migrants have endured on their journey to family, identity and belonging.”

As a social worker in the UK in the 1980s, she received a letter from Australia asking for help to locate someone’s family. She went on to uncover and expose the UK child migration scheme, which had shipped about 130,000 British children overseas. Many were sent to Australia in the post war period and placed in harsh institutions where they were subject to abuse, child labour and trauma.

In 1987, Dr Margaret Humphreys established the Child Migrants Trust (CMT), with offices in Nottingham, Perth and Melbourne. The Trust believes every former Child 60 | THE IRISH SCENE

Migrant should now enjoy the same rights and opportunities as their fellow citizens.

From international political advocacy to working to restore personal identity and reuniting child migrants with their families, CMT has been a powerful champion for social justice for the thousands of men and women and their families impacted by this horrific scheme. Tony, himself a former child migrant and a tireless advocate for their cause, was invited to the special ceremony. There was a surprise in store for Tony. The ceremony and function was held in the old parliament building in Canberra where unbeknownst to him until much later in life was the same place where his Italian father (his mum was Irish) worked as head waiter around the same time Tony was “interred” at Bindoon boys home where he witnessed brutal violence and abuse doled out on the children sent there, by the priests and brothers in charge of them. The significance of this connection was not lost on Tony! He is pictured here talking with the wife of the governor general. A little bird tells Irish Scene that she said to him: “I hear you are a tenor singer”, to which Tony – who can sing well – gave his trademark “Yes, a tenor not worth a fiver” response. Good on you Tony and congratulations to Dr Humphreys.

Vale Tom

On March 16, it would have been exactly sixty years to the day when Tom O’Hanlon, from Benagh, Co. Louth set sail for Australia. Sadly Tom died very recently but his life story is told in Home Away From Home, a collection of interviews with ten of Perth’s most recognisable Irish people, conducted and published by the Claddagh Association, and is easily found online.

The Claddagh Association expressed heartfelt condolences to his wife Stalina and family here in Australia and in Ireland.

Tom was a proud Irishman and loved living in what he called “The best country in the world” - Australia.

Papalia’s pop up pub plans Fancy versions of Aussie party staples like meat pies and lamingtons were to be laid on while homegrown beers, wines and spirits were also being shipped over for the event. “We want to give people a little taste of WA,” the minister added. “Invites to our pub takeover will be handed out at nearby hospitals, police stations and train stations.”

6PR created this image of the Temple Bar pub, one of Dublins (800 or so) best known pubs, as a likely location for the pop up pub proposal.

‘Stealing’ now sanctioned police policy No doubt there was a lot of sweet talk about all the reasons why a move to WA would be he McGowan government dipped its toe the “sea change” prospective migrants were into the pub game with a two day binge in looking for. But Mr Papalia was blunt about Dublin at the start of March. “shamelessly trying to steal” the best people Some lucky state government underlings on the he can get from Ireland and the UK, including ultimate junket were given the job of taking over police. a boozer in the city centre and transforming it “We are going there to be controversial and into an Australian bar. contentious,” he said. “We are going there to The unorthodox move was part of the latest sell our state, even if it means putting noses out overseas recruitment campaign to find people of joint. That’s the strategy. Go big, steal their to fill 31,000 jobs across various sectors in workers, then go home. We are going to hit Western Australia. them for six. We are there to secure the workers Premier Mark McGowan began the state’s head we need across almost every sector, to make sure our major companies and our mum and hunting exercise on a European trip last July, dad small businesses have the staff they need. including a few days in Ireland.

Will we get 30,000 workers? I don’t know. What This time around Paul Papalia, WA’s minister for I do know, is that if we don’t, it won’t be for lack police and defence industry, led the delegation of trying. We are going to educate them on the to the UK and then Ireland to find the badly one thing every West Aussie already knows. We needed workers and to tempt them to with live in the best place in the world.” offers of better pay, new opportunities, sunshine and a lifestyle to match.

The $300,000 campaign is called ‘Western Australia – Its Like No Other’.

“We are going to hit them where it hurts on the battlefield of our choosing; the pubs,” Mr Papalia told Irish Scene before the junket got underway. “We will launch a pub takeover in Dublin.

We will heat that pub to a nice, dry, Perth heat and transform the pub with the likes of beach sand, beach balls and gum trees. We will hijack the windows by covering them with pictures. Instead of looking out at the grim, gloomy Irish winter, punters will be staring at Cable I predict a riot...Police minister Paul Papalia’s Beach, the kangaroos at Lucky Bay, and aggressive recruitment campaign the Mandurah foreshore.”

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62 | THE IRISH SCENE

Officers from the WA Police Force (including at least one former Garda) took part in the overseas WA delegation and met with prospective recruits. It was the latest step in the international campaign to convert existing Gardai (with three years experience or more) into shiny new WA cops. That headhunting exercise officially launched last October and according to the latest figures it has prompted 826 applications and 1041 expressions of interest, but a breakdown of how many of them On his walk around Australia Tony Mangan met these came from Ireland, the UK or New police officers in remote WA. This male officer is from Zealand was not available.

Galway while his police partner is from the UK (we think).

There is a hidden need for these new recruits as hundreds of homegrown my career in a beautiful part of the world,” Sgt officers have walked away from the service Little said. “After arriving in Perth I moved out in recent times. The opposition in parliament into the regions, the reason for doing that was certainly sees it as a major problem. to get to know the people of this country a bit “We know that police are leaving in droves, so better.” much so that the Minister for Police has now The move has lived up to his expectations. resorted to poaching police from the United “The rewards you get are fantastic, working Kingdom and Ireland to make up for the fact on country with our first nations people and that he cannot recruit enough officers here flearning rom their epxerience,” he added. “We to keep the force at full strength,” Shane Love, really work hand in hand with the community Moore MP said in a debate in the Legislative leaders in each community, to provide policeing Assembly in late February. “It is a complete services to them and to help them when they admission on his part of a failure to attract need it. I’ve been lucky enough now to have Western Australians into the police force. He denies a problem with morale and resignation levels, yet the facts speak for themselves. Our population cannot actually replace our police force.”

Policing in WA – an open and shut case for these Irish cops FLY NOW , PAY Two WA officers from Ireland took LATER! part in an official promotional video – Policing the Desert in Western Australia – to do their bit to try and convince their countrymen and women to follow their lead.

Brevet Snr Sgt Mike Little is currently based at the Jigalong Multi-Function Police Facility in the British Travel now offer 2 forms of payment plans to Pilbara and together with another suit everyone. You can pay off over 2 to 12 months.

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worked in a variety of districts in Western Australia and I know a number of my colleagues who came over at the same time as I did in our squad of about thrity officers, each and every one of them are still here.”

Meanwhile, a five hour drive up the road the online video also features one Sgt Adrian McKeown, the Officer in Charge at Marble Bar Police station.

“Its in the Pilbara and is one of the hottest places in Australia,” St McKeown states. “We’ve got about 150 permanent residents and we also cover two remote aboriginal communities. Work in the police is work wherever you go in the world but its the lifestyle that comes along with living in WA and the job, so yeah I would encourage anybody to come out. It can get busy, it can get hot, but its a good life here.”

The short Youtube video about policing in one of the largest and most remote police districts has been viewed more than 1,600 times and carries a message for viewers: “If you are a police officer in the Republic of Ireland, the UK or NZ and you are wanting to experience life Down Under, visit ‘Let’s Join Forces’.”

Interestingly, that particular marketing campaign was until very recently headed up Westmeath woman Brenda Frawley, who was senior marketing and communications officer in WAPOL’s corporate communications branch.

The November/December edition of Irish Scene had a good example of how ‘Irish’ cops really are out there serving in remote and outback areas, as well as cities and towns. Not long after entering the top end of WA on his recent walking tour of Australia Dublin man Tony Mangan met this young male officer, who hails from Galway.

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The Claddagh Seniors ventured down to Mandurah in February where they enjoyed a slap up fish and chip lunch at Murphy’s Irish Pub on the foreshore.

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Happy St Patrick’s Day from your WA Labor Irish-Australian Team

Jessica Stojkovski Member for Kingsley

David Michael

Member for Balcatta

Caitlin Collins

Member for Hillarys

Jackie Jarvis

Member for South West

Stephen Dawson

Member for Mining & Pastoral

Alanna Clohesy

Member for East Metropolitan

Margaret Quirk

Member for Landsdale

Jodie Hanns

Member for Collie-Preston

walabor.org.au Authorised by Jessica Stojkovski MLA, 4/923 Whitfords Ave, Woodvale WA 6026

BY AUBREY MALONE

Brendan Behan’s Centenary

I

t’s hard to believe that Brendan Behan would have been 100 years of age now if he lived. His mother, Kathleen, had to leave a roominghouse when she was pregnant with him due to lack of funds. He boasted, ‘I’m the only writer who was evicted before he was born.’ According to legend he came out of his mother in their house in Russell Street with a bottle of Guinness in his hand.

It was his granny who first inducted him into the diverse joys of the Black Stuff so she has a lot to answer for. He was hardly out of short pants before he was lowering substantial quantities of it. He loved the excitement of Russell Street.

The community life there gave him the inspiration for much of his writing. Afterwards he moved to Crumlin. The vast sprawl bored him to tears. ‘I feel like a culchie,’ he said. He professed not to like this breed. Meeting one in a pub once he told him to get lost. ‘Come back when you’re born in Dublin,’ he hissed. His first drink was said to be at a funeral with his granny.

She often used to ask him to go into pubs for her for jugs of beer. By all reports the young Brendan would drink half of them and top the rest up with water. Amazingly she never seemed to notice.

One day when he was stumbling up the street as a result of sloshing back a few half-jars, a man said to his mother, ‘That’s a beautiful boy you have there. It’s a pity he’s handicapped.’ She grew indignant at the remark, replying, ‘How dare you call him handicapped – he’s drunk.’ It was almost like a badge of honour for her - and subsequently for him. He was a fighter before he became a writer. His family was republican.

He became a member of the IRA as a boy. He claimed to have been sent to England on a bombing mission some years later. ‘I brought gelignite with me,’ he said, ‘I preferred it to dynamite. Dynamite isn’t safe.’ A lovable eccentric, he once said he taught his cat to

68 | THE IRISH SCENE

give an IRA salute by standing on its hind legs.

Another day he said, ‘I bought the Bailey bar by accident, I only went to the auction to buy an electric toaster.’ He claimed to have a bath once a year ‘whether I need it or not.’ Food was often kept in his bathtub, anything from a chicken to a sheep’s head.

Asked how often he washed his socks he said, ‘I throw them at the ceiling. If they don’t stick onto it they’re good for another day or two.’

After throwing his clothes on the floor one night he was asked why he didn’t put them on a hanger he said, ‘I hung them on the floor where they can’t fall off.’

He ended up in prison after firing a shot at a detective at a funeral.

It provided a conducive environment for his writing – and his wit. ‘Are we getting food with our meals today?’ he asked a jailer once. He said he lost his faith in prison doctors when he heard of one who prescribed two aspirins for a man with a broken leg.

Life on the ‘outside’ wasn’t much better. He was a painter by trade but he didn’t particularly enjoy it. His ideal day, he said, would be ‘Work from 1pm to 2pm, with an hour off for lunch.’

Success came in England first, largely due to the help of the legendary theatrical figure, Joan Littlewood. ‘If Dylan Thomas wrote Under Milk Wood,’ he was alleged to have said, ‘I wrote under Joan Littlewood.’ How did he get to England? ‘My granny had an umbrella with powerful ribs. We were flying over London. I asked the pilot to let me out. He slides the door open. I open the brolly and out I went.’ Fame turned into notoriety after he became ‘leader of the banned.’ When his play The Hostage was censored he said, ‘I’ve set up my own Censorship Board and I hereby censor all censors.’

The sometime painter became a sensation.

His father Stephen remarked, ‘Last year he was wearing my cast-offs. Now I’m wearing his.’ He wasn’t interested in money. ‘He’d give you the shirt off his back,’ a colleague said, ‘and then tell

you what horse to put it on.’ He comforted the afflicted and afflicted the comfortable.

Asked if he’d become bourgeois since becoming famous he replied, ‘Not yet, but I’m saving up for it.’ Anger rose to the surface when he was drinking. So did his inimitable sense of fun.

Nobody knew which would come to the fore on a given night. It made socialising with him like living over the San Andreas fault. At the end of the day – or night - the only person he really damaged was himself. People say drink destroyed his career but Behan rarely wrote under the influence.

The only other times he was sober was when he was in prison. Outside those confines he let it work its magic on him. ‘I didn’t turn to drink,’ he once said, ‘It turned to me.’

As well as liver weakness he had diabetes.

Health-wise, each drop he raised to his lips was like a spark to a stick of gelignite. He admitted he was neurotic but added significantly, ‘My neuroses are the nails and harness which give me a living. If I was cured of them I’d probably have to go back to house- painting.’ It was a high price to pay for a good book or a good play but one he paid time and again with interest. He once said he wasn’t proud of his alcohol intake but he wasn’t ashamed of it either. Asked why he drank so much, he replied, ‘Because I like the stuff.’

Elsewhere he said, ‘I drink to forget but I can’t remember what.’ Another familiar witticism was, ‘l drink only twice a day: when I’m thirsty and when I’m not.’ Another reason Behan said he drank was because orange juice was too expensive. More seriously, he claimed he only got into alcohol in a big way after the money from his plays started to pour in. He meant it started him on spirits. Before that all he could afford was stout. If he continued drinking Guinness alone he might have lived a lot longer, even with his diabetes. The fact that he gave up the day job after he began writing full time meant he wasn’t working off his hangovers with the activity. When he had his first experience of literary success he organised a ritual burning of his paints and overalls in his house in Crumlin. It was meant to be a celebratory but maybe this was the day death put in its first brushstrokes.

When his literary career took off he became the toast of London and later New York.

The Irish, he said, may have been his raw material but they weren’t necessarily his audience. He became friendly with writers like Norman Mailer, actors like Jackie Gleason.

He even met Montgomery Clift. Hollywood he described as ‘a quagmire crawling with Judas Iscariots.’ A court banned him from attending the St. Patrick Day parade in New York in 1961 because of his obstreperous behaviour in a bar. Miffed at the decision he said, ‘I now know what the snakes did after St Patrick banished them from Ireland. They swam over to America and became judges.’ He had a tongue, it was said, ‘like a plateful of mortal sins.’ He said to a colleague once, ‘I hear someone died. It wouldn’t be yourself by any chance, would it?’

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He claimed he once tried to be a policeman but was rejected when it was discovered his parents were married. ‘I never knew a situation so bad,’ he maintained, ‘that a policeman couldn’t make it worse.’

He addressed the notion that people who don’t drink live longer by saying, ‘It’s not true. It just seems that way.’ All of these quips were thinly-veiled attempts to shift attention from the seriousness of his problem.

His personality changed with drink. He was entertaining without it but doubly so when he’d imbibed. His friends goaded him on to greater indulgences.

It’s a pity more of them didn’t stay around longer to pull him out of the gutter when that became his destination at the end of another Rabelaisian night. ‘I ruined my health, he lamented, ‘by drinking to everyone else’s.’

He was never able to cope with success. In time it became a poisoned chalice, a different kind of prison than the one with bars. He was too ‘real’ to enjoy it. Sometimes he joined the people queueing for his plays and sang songs for them, passing a hat around afterwards for ‘donations.’ Fair weather friends deserted him when he started to become difficult. Those who loved him tried any ploy they knew to get him to stop. Parasites who enjoyed watching him make a fool of himself egged him on to further indulgences, further mad exhibitions of paddywhackery and (occasionally) inspirational drama. Beatrice, his wife, frequently pleaded with him to have himself dried out in hospital. He refused, feeling he would come out of any hospital a vegetable.

‘You want me to be a suburbanite,’ he said, ‘Into the office at nine in the morning and walk the dog along Sandymount Strand after tea.’ In his last years he was steeping rough, drinking quietly in pubs where he once held court in front of dozens of people, getting short surges of the old magic but mainly just going through the motions of a life that seemed to be crawling towards its close. ‘Such a waste of genius,’ Anthony Butler wrote, ‘all gone now with the windy belch of ten 70 | THE IRISH SCENE

thousand pints of stout.’ Most of his old friends, or those who called themselves his friends, ran for cover at the hint of trouble. The ones that remained were locked between pity and fear for the former mirth-maker. His liver was shot to pieces by now. He girded his loins for a few last surges into the old stomping grounds as he attempted to recreate the glory of his prime.

The laughter was hollow, however, as his well of inspiration had dried up. He went to bed sick and he woke up sick. The most he could hope for was to meet his maker with dignity. ‘I’m only staying alive,’ he told people, ‘to save funeral expenses.’ He died in March 1964. ‘He couldn’t hold his liquor at all at that point,’ his brother Brian told me when I collaborated with him on a book about Brendan, ‘and I mean that literally.

The glass would fall from his hands.’ At this time he was living separately from Beatrice. Even when he stayed overnight with her he slept on the sofa instead of in her bed, leaving her to

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cry herself to sleep. She’d had a child by him by now, a daughter called Blanaid, but he couldn’t appreciate it. Ironically, the man who’d had such a soft spot for children all his life was immune to the charms of his own baby. ‘He was dying and he knew it’ his brother Brian said, ‘The last time I drank with him his legs were swinging under him like a rag doll. The furniture was gone from the loft. He was just marking time until the end.’

‘You made a big mistake in marrying me,’ he often said to Beatrice. His disaster may be seen as self-imposed but if alcoholism is a disease, and it is, we should grant him some succour. All too often people talk about this and nothing else when they talk of Brendan. The fact is that he wrote some classic books and plays that capture not only the street gaiety of profoundly simple souls like himself but also the march of a nation towards the terrible beauty of self-definition.

Brendan always suspected he would die young but he felt powerless to halt his decline. Those who loved him tried any ploy they knew to get him to stop. His lackeys and parasites egged him on to further indulgences, further mad exhibitions of paddywhackery and (occasionally) inspirational drama.

This article was first published in Ireland’s Eye. Aubrey Malone is the author of ‘Sayings of Brendan Behan’ and co-author of The Brothers Behan (with Brian Behan).

THE IRISH SCENE | 71

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84 84 || THE THE IRISH IRISH SCENE SCENE

IRISH IRISH THEATRE THEATRE PLAYERS PLAYERS

WE ARE BACK IN THE REHEARSAL SPACE AGAIN PREPARING OURlove APRIL Irish Theatre PlayersFOR would to extend a huge “thank“THE you” LAST to theDAYS wonderful PRODUCTION OF JUDAS audiences that attended our most recent ISCARIOT” UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES OF show, our Christmas Pantomime “Snow AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR BRENDAN ELLIS. White (The Off-White Version)” Written by

Five come together to help clear out a to the authorities.

He seen man to thewomen authorities.

He is is seen as as the the man responsible responsible run-down cottage a week before the wedding for Jesus’s death; afterwards, Judas fell into despair for Jesus’s death; afterwards, Judas fell into despair of its newhimself owner,from Una. Joining her on this hen and hung an olive tree; since then, and hung himself from an olive tree; since then, he he night of suffering sorts arefor her two best friends, Kelly and has been his deeds deep in Hell and has been suffering for his deeds deep in Hell and Tríona, and her soon toall beeternity. mother-in-law, Olive, will continue to do so for Is that really will to dofriend, so for all eternity. thatisreally andcontinue Olive’s best Anta.

But Is Una keeping fair?

Was Judas the duplicitous master of his own fair?

Was Judas the duplicitous master of hishopes own of a secret that, if revealed, will destroy all fate, a pawn used Jesus’s ends, or fate, a much-suffering much-suffering used for for Jesus’sever ends, or her dream weddingpawn and living happily after just a man who made a mistake?

Set in a courtroom just a man who of made mistake? in aunfolds courtroom with the love heralife.

As theSet play we in Purgatory, The puts Judas’ to see the women, oneDays by one, to confront in Purgatory, The Last Last Days putsforced Judas’ case case to a a hilarious, riotous, piercing trial, the results of awkwardriotous, truths piercing of their trial, own.the Should some hilarious, results of which which are sure make the inhabitants of Hell, and secrets never no matter what the cost? are sure to to makebe thekept inhabitants of Heaven, Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory — and the audience — reconsider what The venue the Irish Club in Purgatory — is and the audience — Subiaco. reconsider what each thought they forgiveness, faith, and each thought they knew knew about about forgiveness, faith, and Evening performances will be on April 20, 21,22, the human inside one of history’s most infamous the inside one of history’s most infamous 27, human 28, 29 @ 7.30pm. figures. figures.

There is one matinee performance on Sunday April 23 @ 2.00pm.

SHOW TIMES ARE APRIL 21ST, & 23RD SHOW APRIL 21ST, 22ND 22ND 23RD AT AT WatchTIMES out forARE further updates and & booking 7.30PM.SUNDAY MATINEE 24TH AT 2.00PM 7.30PM.SUNDAY MATINEE 24TH AT 2.00PM information on our Facebook page: Facebook.

THEN 28TH, AT 7.30PM. THEN 28TH, 29TH 29TH & & 30TH 30THor ATour 7.30PM. com/irishtheatreplayers website: www. irishtheatre players.com.au

Yvette Wall. It was a fantastic success and The of Iscariot is hilarious, The Last Days of Judas Judas Iscariotthe is a a support hilarious,of we Last veryDays much appreciate poignant, work by everyonethought-provoking who came to see it. I’m sure the poignant, thought-provoking work

by Pulitzer-prize Pulitzer-prize winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis.

Guirgis.

Boasting large numbers in Stephen attendance were also winning playwright Adly Boasting aappreciated large, zany zany cast cast of characters, theofplay play asks one by of the Irish Club WA, and we a large, characters, the asks one were also plaguing able to raise a over for an of the most most plaguing questions in $2,000 the Christian Christian of the questions in the Irish family inhappened need here WA.Iscariot? ideology: What happened to in Judas Iscariot? The The ideology: What to Judas facts (we think!) think!) we know know are are these: these: Judas Judas was was the the In January, ITP we facts (we attended the who disciple of Jesus Jesus who betrayed betrayed his his friend friend and and teacher teacher disciple of Independent Dublin Playwright, Jimmy Murphy Theatre THANKS WHO ATTENDED OUR AGM THANKS SO SO MUCH MUCH TO TO ALL ALL OUR OUR MEMBERS MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED Association Jimmy Murphy is an OUR AGM ON AT IRISH OF WA. ON THURSDAY THURSDAY 17TH 17TH FEBRUARY FEBRUARYIrish AT THE THE IRISH CLUB CLUB OF in WA. Awards playwright living FOR OUR OF OUR YEAR 2021.

Ceremony, FOR THOSE THOSE WHO WHO MISSED MISSED IT, IT, HERE’S HERE’S Dublin.

OUR REVIEW REVIEW OF OUR YEAR 2021.

He is a former where we were Also, membership for 2022 now available; www.trybooking.com/BWUGC writer in residence at NUI Also, membership for 2022 now available; www.trybooking.com/BWUGC nominated Maynooth, a member for 12 awards. Huge of the Abbey Theatre’s congratulations to Shivas Linsday, who Honorary Advisory won “Best Actor in a Short Play” for his role Council, a recipient as Gus in “The of three Bursaries in Dumb Waiter” literature from the Arts directed by Council/An Chomhairle Tadhg Lawrence, Ealaíona and was elected and Riane Lake a member of Aosdána in 2004. who won “Best Murphy was born to Irish parents in Salford, Supporting Lancashire on September 30th, 1962. When he Actress” for her was six, his family returned to Dublin, settling role in “Dilate” by in the South inner-city district of Islandbridge.

Yvette Wall. We He first went to school in nearby Inchicore, were also delighted to be awarded “Best attending the Oblate Fathers’ primary school Pantomime of the Year 2021” for “Cinderella there, then moved to (The Slightly Deviated Version)”, written by Ballyfermot in his teens.

Yvette Wall and directed by Michael Balmer.

There, he attended So after a busy year in 2022, it’s time for us to jump into the new year with rehearsals for our next production.

secondary school at St. John’s De La Salle College.

Written by Jimmy Murphy and directed

by Caroline McDonnell “The Hen Night Epiphany” is our April production.

Director of “The Hen Night Epiphany”, Caroline McDonnell.

irishtheatreplayers.com.au irishtheatreplayers.com.au

IrishTheatrePlayers THE IrishTheatrePlayers THE IRISH IRISH SCENE SCENE || 85 85

CAN YOU PUT YOUR HAND UP? VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! We are gearing up for a big year at Claddagh in 2023 and we look forward to sharing with you over the year, some interesting and valuable volunteer opportunities. We hope you will be able to contribute your time and experience to some of these and help us support our community.

We are blessed with a strong, community minded membership, and many of our members take opportunities to make a positive impact on the world by sharing the gift of their time. We are so grateful for the support – and the people who benefit from the work of our Volunteers are too.

Whether you can spare an hour or two, or commit to an ongoing programme, we can’t wait to have you involved! Please contact us at the office to enquire.

• • • •

Digital Training Workshops St Patricks Day Parade Outreach Programme Darkness Into Light Walk … to name just a few!

CLADDAGH HONOURS SPECIAL MEMBERS We were delighted to announce, ‘Lifetime Honorary Member’ Awards to four members in appreciation of their tremendous support over many years. Thank you Joe Carroll, Annie Ross, Irene McGovern and John McGovern, for your generosity of time and support of others. Peter McKenna, Claddagh Vice Chairperson, was able to present Joe and Annie their certificates at the Claddagh Christmas Seniors Event.

THANK YOU, PAUL NORTH! The Claddagh Association would like to take this opportunity to thank Paul North from JB O’Reilly’s, on his retirement. Paul has provided tremendous support to Claddagh over many years and we are very grateful.

Good luck Paul – enjoy spending time with your family! & Friends, Jean Hill, Tom Tallon & Anonymous friends year.

FREE VISA CLINICS The Claddagh Association hosts FREE Visa Clinics regularly. Patricia Halley (MARA 1383611) from Visa4You - a registered and experienced Migration Agent is available for face to face and telephone appointments.

If you need advice about Visa’s or citizenship, please make an appointment with our office for the next clinic by contacting us on -08 9249 9213 or email our Co-Ordinator: Geraldine at admin@claddagh.org.au.

Appointments are available free to anyone in the Irish community, it’s a great opportunity to get advice from a professional.

NEXT VISA CLINIC: Tuesday 23rd May 2023 – 9am-2pm

AR DHEIS DE` GO RAIBH A ANAM Tom O’Hanlon 1936 – 2023 The Claddagh Association are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend and member of our seniors’ group, Tom O’Hanlon.

We express our heartfelt condolences to his wife Stalina and family here in Australia and in Ireland.

Tom was one of the original interviewees in our 2020 Oral History Project and shared with us the incredible story of his life as an Irish immigrant coming to Australia in the early 1960’s. Tom was a proud Irishman and loved living in what he called “The best country in the world” - Australia.

Read more of Tom’s story here: https://claddagh.org.au/ claddagh-oral-history-project/ Thank, you Tom, for opening your home and life with us and sharing your story for our future generations.

Christmas Mass Donation The Claddagh Association would like to thank Lee for the donation received from a Christmas Mass celebrated on the 15th December 2022. Thank you Lee for helping to arrange. All donations received help support our ongoing work in the Irish Community here in WA.

Claddagh Report

SENIORS DIGITAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS ARE RETURNING IN 2023 - WORKSHOP 2: APPS, APPS & MORE APPS

BECO SAVVY ME A TECH SENIOR IN 2023 For On e Or Al ! l Thes

Saturday 25 March 2023 - 10am - 1pm

Join Us WORKS

HOP 1:

BACK TO

Following the very successful 2022 Programme, we launched our 2023 Workshops on Saturday 25 February with Workshop 1 “Back to Basics”. All Workshops are designed especially for Seniors and endeavour to provide a fun and supportive learning environment that teaches practical skills in using today’s technology.

Saturday

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Join us for this fun and informative workshop. Call our office on 08 9249 9213 or email - projects@claddagh.org.au to secure your seat now. You’ll get a folder to take home to practise in your own time, a few laughs during the workshop and some delicious morning tea. Join us and become Tech Savvy in 2023! The Seniors Digital Training Project is generously sponsored by the Emigrant Support Program.

Unit 13/

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Supportin g: The Cl adda and the Charlott gh Association e Founda tion

In celebration of St Patrick’s Day and as a joint fundraiser for Claddagh and the Charlotte Foundation, The Irish Golf Society will be holding their annual Two Ball Ambrose event on Friday 17 March 2023. Two tee start from 7.30am - $75.00 per person. Carts available by calling 9370 3211 to arrange.

There will be prizes galore with a raffle on the day plus lots of novelties.

Contact Peter McKenna 0447 258 000, Allan Rowland 0439 516 399 or Tom Quinn 0412 236 498 for bookings and details. All proceeds to the Claddagh Association and the Charlotte Foundation.

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displaye d on the s of two players, day. banners Raffle on the day, plus lots of novelties .

Claddagh Seniors Enjoy A Fun Day Out! 2023 has started off well for our Seniors who had their first Claddagh Seniors outing to see an exclusive screening of ‘A Man Called Otto’ at Event Cinemas in Innaloo. Delicious refreshments were served in the cinema, and everyone enjoyed the heart-warming movie. Thank you to our Seniors Committee for organising such a fun movie screening.

THE CLADDAGH ASSOCIATION - THERE WHEN YOU NEED US The mission of the Claddagh Association is to provide help and support to members of the Irish community who find themselves in difficult circumstances.

To support these needs of both individuals and families Claddagh must fundraise throughout the year.

If you would like to support Claddagh’s work in 2023 you can: • donate at our website: https://claddagh.org.au/support-our-work/ make-a-donation/ claddagh.org.au.

• sign up to volunteer – your time can make the world of difference.

• become a member for only $10. Increasing our membership allows us to access additional funding and support through other avenues.

See our Website for full details: https://claddagh.org.au.

Don’t forget, if you or someone you know needs Claddagh’s support, please contact the Claddagh office via admin@claddagh.org.au/08 9249 9213. If your need is urgent, you can call Claddagh’s Crisis Line on 0403 972 265.

13/15 Bonner Drive Malaga WA 6090.

Enquiries: 08 9249 9213 admin@claddagh.org.au

Crisis Support: 0403 972 265

ps!

THE FOURTH TUESDAY BOOK CLUB

THE FOURTH TUESDAY BOOK CLUB

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

At 7.30pm 28 of the TBA to be presented

by Cecilia Bray Irishby Club Committee Room, 61 Townshend Road, Subiaco March 21* Venue ‘Winter Garden’ Kristen Hannah, presented

by Mary Purcell Admission Free. All welcome. Light refreshments provided. Tea and coffee from the Bar $2 April 18 Contact ‘The Power of the Dog’ by Thomas Savage, presented by Cecilia Bray Convener Mary Purcell, m.purcell@telstra.com

Venue Irish Club Committee Room, 61 Townshend Road, Subiaco AdmissionBLOOMSDAY Free. All welcome.

Light refreshments provided.Competition Tea and coffee from the Bar $2 - James Joyce Literary presentations Contact Convener Mary Purcell, m.purcell@telstra.com Note* March and April are on third Tuesday due to members away and Anzac Day

SAINT PATRICK’S WEEKEND Friday 17th To March, Mass, 10.30am, Saint Joseph’s Subiaco mark Community the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses, the AIHA will hold a celebratory event on th Appropriate June to the16Saint’s Day known join usworld-wide for a wonderful Irish spiritual service.Bloom AIHAinwill be among community groups in , officially as Bloomsday, after Leopold Ulysses.

At thethe event, the shortlisted from our competition be stagedinasPerth readings, drama, music and visual presentations procession behind ourentries banner.

Organised

by IrishwillFamilies by solo or groups. The overall winner will be chosen by popular vote on the night and will receive a cash Saturday 18th March, Leederville Parade and Irish Festival, 10am prize.

The AIHA willWe bethank participating in the parade and willand have an information tent at the oval with a children’s competition and our adjudicators Frank Murphy Frances Devlin-Glass photo opportunities in heritage dress. You are invited to join our float featuring a green 1949 Riley sedan, AIHA banners and Date Thursday June 16 at 7.30pm dressed in black and white with a sash. The theme for the 2023 Festival Parade is “Irish Heroes”. Concert at the oval is free.

Venue Admission Prizes Bookings

Irish Club Theatre, 61 Townshend Road, Subiaco (to be confirmed) AIHA members $20, Non-members $25, includes light refreshments Best Edwardian dressed male or female. Plus special Irish raffle

EASTER MONDAY CATALPA COMMEMORATION ROCKINGHAM, 11am https://www.trybooking.com/BZAVU

Annual commemoration of the escape of six Fenian convicts on 17-18 April, 1876. With oration, verse, music and song at AIHA Website the Catalpa Memorial.

Guest speakers and dignitaries in attendance, coordinated by David McKnight. This event has been Check websiteTrust https://irishheritage.com.au/news-blog/ for which a selection exclusive registered with theour National for their annual Heritage Festival runsof10 April tointerviews 14 May conducted by committee member Gill Kenny and other articles of note. If you click on the interview with Aine Tyrrell Date Easter Monday, 10 April at 11am to 12 noon. you will arrive at our YouTube channel. Aine is really interesting - victim of domestic violence, successful singer, living in a bus and rearing 3 children. has great perspectives life and had a real Irish chat Venue Catalpa Memorial, Rockingham Beach, She walking distance south of on Township. with Gill. Easter Monday Annual Catalpa Commemoration was professionally videod this year. The link will Entry Free public event. be on our website as soon as available. thank GillIrish and Patricia thisRockingham new member feature.

Followed byWe Inaugural FestivalBratton by the for local Catalpa Rescue Project on Churchill Park from 12 noon to 6pm. It will feature an afternoon concert of Irish performers, children’s activities, food vans, licensed bar and market The JOURNAL stalls. Free event Members of AIHA receive 4 editions of the Journal each year. Latest edition for March 2022, Vol 31, No 1 is available. We now have a library of 30 years of Journal and are compiling an index of every article title, author and subject detail to be made available on our website from May this year. We anticipate almost 2,000 titles in the index. canseeking email editor Julie Breathnach-Banwait onbound journal@irishheritage.com.au The JournalContributors – we are still a new editor for our quarterly publication. Enquiries to our secretary Non-members can purchase copies at $10

Current projects

Brendan Award 2022 – finalisation of this annual community award has been deferred to early 2023 Coming Up 8am. AIHA at invitation of Subiaco RSL lay wreaths for Irish ANZACS. Morning tea follows.

Anzac Day – Tuesday 25 April, Annual Mary Durack lecture to be delivered by Patsy Millet, daughter of Dame Mary Durack, AC DBE Australian author and historian, (1913 - 1994). Date is subject to confirmation by Irish Club in July or August

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL Due 1 January, 2023

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 Members enjoy discounted rates to dinners and functions, exclusive events, quarterly Journal, voting rights, and opportunities to participate in activities which promote an awareness of Australia’s Irish Heritage.

AIHA has been approved charity and tax deductable status effective 19/12/2022. Deductable Gift Recipient Status (DGR) allows our sponsors claim a tax deduction. Our thanks to treasurer Patricia Bratton for leading this project.

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

76 | THE IRISH SCENE

Bill Daly

Blending the Irish Bloodline

R

emnants of a Viking settlement were discovered in Cork City a few years ago in line with development work that was being carried out in this area. This settlement and artefacts are over 1000 years old and once again reinforces the City of Cork as an original centre of Viking settlement and investment.

In the late 1970’s there were many protests in Dublin in order to preserve the very important Viking settlement at Wood Quay.

It was the largest settlement of its type ever unearthed and considered a very significant archaeological find for this country. In the height of the Wood Quay controversy a comment was made that if this site had been discovered as a Celtic settlement rather than a Viking one, it would have been much easier to get support and funding in relation to its preservation.

In the study of Irish history, the Vikings have always been considered as outsiders and have received a pretty ‘bad press’ overall. They are primarily remembered for plundering and pillaging, but we must also remember that at this time the centres of wealth were the Monastic settlements. The Monastic scribes were also the journalists of their day who wrote about and chronicled these events, and which subsequently were to pass into our historical studies for this period. The writings are biased against them, unbalanced, and the overall Viking contribution needs to be viewed in a much broader context.

These early seafaring multinationals, Vikings or Danes, were beginning to come in large numbers to Ireland from the 8th to the 10th centuries and founded the now important cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford.

They introduced the first system of coinage to Ireland, replacing the old traditional barter economy. Apart from the early raiding and plundering of Monasteries they were primarily involved in fishing, shipping and commerce.

Viking words which have passed to the Irish language include ‘pingin’, ‘margadh’ and ‘bad’.

I have heard recently about our sometimes unwelcome attitude to refugees who are seeking asylum in this country. As a race, we are not as pure as we think we are. From the beginnings of habitation on this Island we were

populated in turn by the great Celtic tribes of the Fir Bolg, Tuatha De Danann and Milesian peoples.

Each of these would replace and intertwine with each other.

In subsequent periods we were forcibly settled by Vikings, Normans and English Colonists. We are, in effect, a hybrid nation of people, conditioned by centuries of intermarriage.

We were certainly restrained during the colonial period but if we journey upstream a in time we will find an Irish people with a great economic and cultural tradition that has helped the advance of civilisation in a global context. In the Monastic period we travelled extensively throughout Europe, providing the people in these areas with learning and religion. Newgrange was constructed over 5000 years ago, at the same time as the Egyptian pyramids, by an Irish race that had a knowledge of trigonometry. We also produced intricate and priceless works such as the Book of Kells, the Ardagh Chalice and knowledge of navigation may have seen St. Brendan reach Newfoundland as early as the 6th century. We have also produced literary giants such as Swift, Yeats, Shaw, Wilde, Joyce and Heaney that are now globally respected.

The west coast of Ireland was also very much influenced by seafaring contact from North Africa over 5,000 years ago, in particular from Morocco and Algeria. Our ‘shamrock’ plant is now believed to be Moroccan in origin. To live anywhere in the world today and be against equality because of colour or race is like living in Alaska and being against snow. In recognising the humanity of our fellow beings, we will ultimately pay ourselves the highest tribute.

‘I’m very aware of my own background. I’m Irish, French, and then a little bit of everything else thrown in, ranging from German to Native American. We’re talking about tiny drops of blood’ - Anne Hathaway.

THE IRISH SCENE | 77

Perth’s fight club

A

trip to Perth could be on the cards for Conor McGregor if his reaction to the recent UFC 284: Makhachev vs Volkanovski showdown is anything to go by.

“That was a great fight last night lads! No loser there just winners,” McGregor – aka The Notorious –- tweeted the day after the fight in the RAC Arena. “The Ozzie and the Ozzie’s showed out and I ****ing loved seeing it! Perth looks ****’n tasty too, now I see why so many Irish are there. I should’ve went out, former congrats all at.” titles on the line Equally impressed with the event were the City of Perth and state government. Perth city council posted on social media that the ‘City of Lights’ (a reference to Perth) heaved with record weekend crowds. “Statistics released today have revealed 110,000 people were attracted to the city between Friday night and Sunday evening, contributing to the highest night footfall for February in three years,” Perth said in the post which included a photograph taken inside the arena showing a packed venue. Some 9,000 visitors came from other Australian states to watch the event.

The state government said it was “arguably the biggest ever weekend of sporting and cultural events in Perth”, a big claim. Some

6,000 fans showed up the the ceremonial weigh in on Saturday with the same number crowding in for the public press conference before the fight and open workshops at Elizabeth Quay. While they were in town, the UFC fighters were also tourists, getting treated to trips out to Rottnest Island and the Swan Valley.

“Everyone saw, and tens of thousands of people experienced, the perfect example of this last weekend with a great mix of different sporting and cultural events bringing a pulsating energy to Perth,” tourism minister Roger Cook said. “UFC 284 brought 9,000 people into our State who sent the message around Australia and the world that WA is an amazing place to live and play. The event was bigger than the Rolling Stones which shows you can get what you want if you try.”

Having staged such a successful event, there is speculation that planning and negotiations have already begun to bring it back again. If that comes to pass and McGregor came out and got involved, experience has shown that you could most likely expect hundreds if not thousands of his supporters from Dublin and across Ireland to follow him all the way, to say nothing of the loyal legions here in Australia who would descend on the west.

THE IRISH SCENE | 79

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY

BY DAVID MACCONNELL

Y

Newfoundland, and a small Caribbean Island called Montserrat. More on this later.

Back to the great day. For such a nominally Irish holiday, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most international occasions of the year. On March 17 each year, rivers and landmarks turn green across the United States, United Kingdom, China, Australia, Egypt (Cairo), Czech Republic (Prague), Italy, France, Brazil, Lithuania (Vilnius), and Dubai. For most countries, even the U.S., St. Patrick’s Day is an unofficial holiday. It is only officially recognized in Ireland, Northern Ireland,

Over the years, St. Patrick’s Day has become more of a day to simply celebrate being Irish.

Traditional symbols of the holiday, as I am sure you all know, are shamrocks, leprechauns, and of course, wearing the colour green!

Celebrations will take part from Auckland to Tokyo, from Beijing to Cairo and from Chicago to Cork not to forget Sydney, Perth and Belfast. You also might be wondering about Vilnius as mentioned above. You are correct in assuming that I had to look it up.

It was difficult for me to believe what Google had found. If you are interested, you can look it up as well. I have never been at all close to Lithuania on my travels around Europe in the early seventies and I have never met anyone who claimed to be a resident of the country but apparently there are quite a few in Ireland at present.

es, it is that time of the year again and after the lull of these last two years, it is so exciting to see normal service being resumed, though maybe not as quickly as might have been possible. We have had our first good news already with the Irish rugby team beating France 32 – 19. I confess that I watched the match live and then again on replay. A truly marvellous game and, on a personal note, so happy that the team includes all four Provinces.

80 | THE IRISH SCENE

St. Patrick’s Day began as a holiday to remember the life of the Patron Saint! In previous articles at this time, I have written of his life story or at least what we believe his life story to be. As a boy, I had to attend a church in Downpatrick where he is supposedly buried.

I am afraid to say that even then I was a little on the sceptical side. It was such a long time ago when he departed this earth and was far too difficult for my little brain to comprehend at the time.

Ulster Ramblings Looking at a country (Japan) a bit to the East, in Tokyo, over 1,000 people wearing green will take part in their parade this year.

They also host an International Collegiate Festival with workshops where you can learn to dance, (Irish style of course) play Irish music, perhaps on the shamisen, (the most famous Japanese instrument) and enjoy a full day of concerts with lots of Irish music I presume!

The United States hosts St. Patrick’s Day parades in over 100 cities. One of the biggest is in the city of Chicago, who famously dyes its river green for the day! I wonder what dye they use! After the huge parade which draws thousands of people, you can head to the St. Patrick’s Day Festival at the Irish American Heritage Centre and listen to Irish music, dance, and of course eat good old Irish food and drinks! I suppose they mean spuds and Guinness here or perhaps a potato pizza!

I asked myself then why has the feast day of Ireland’s patron saint become such a worldwide phenomenon, and where and when was the first St Patrick’s Day Parade held? To many people, St. Patrick’s Day has come to represent Irish culture and identity, and it has its origins in the Irish emigrant communities in the United States. Today there are over 70 million people worldwide who claim Irish heritage, and the celebrations are a great way

St Patrick’s Day

Parade Dublin

for people right across the world to celebrate the unique culture, language, and for me, the music of Ireland. The month of March is not only a celebration of Saint Patrick, it is also the time for Seachtain na Gaeilge ( I do hope I have spelled this correctly) – a two week celebration of the Irish language that culminates on St. Patrick’s Day. Apparently, Ireland was not the location of the first parade. In 1737 in Boston, a crowd of 27 Irish immigrants came together to celebrate their heritage. In 1762, fourteen years before the Declaration of Independence

St Patrick’s grave sit e Downpatrick was signed, the first official St. Patrick’s Day Parade was recorded in New York, when a band of Irish ex-patriots and Irish men serving in the British Army marched while playing pipes and singing Irish songs.

It did not become a public holiday in Ireland until 1900 through the efforts of the Gaelic League. However, the Gaelic League’s success in closing all public houses on St. Patrick’s Day from 1904 proved to be less successful and certainly less popular! Northern Ireland continued this unpopular idea well into the nineteen sixties. As I have mentioned in previous articles, the schools cup final was very popular at that time. It was played on the 17th of March and was one of the few places one could buy a beer legally. I am reliably informed that the archaic law has been abolished.

I am told that, St. Patrick’s Day has been an annual festival in Moscow and other cities in Russia since 1999. Naturally, the official parade is held in military-style, (is this an Irish oxymoron?) collaborating with the THE IRISH SCENE | 81

Ulster Ramblings Irish embassy and the Moscow government, while volunteers conduct the unofficial parade in carnival style. There is also a large Irish expatriate community in Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2015, the community organized the Sarajevo Irish Festival to be celebrated for three days, including St. Patrick’s Day. I believe various items are again planned for this year.

Other great centres are of course Glasgow in Scotland, Birmingham in England and many cities in the U.S. Canada and Buenos Aires in Argentina. Perhaps the most unusual place is Montserrat in the West Indies. This tiny Caribbean volcanic island is the only country besides Ireland where St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday, but not for the reason you might think. This March 17th marks the 251st or is it the 252nd anniversary of an unsuccessful slave revolt against the European whites who colonized it in the 17th century, seven out of ten of whom were Irish. Today, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by a weeklong festival of independence. Well, why not!

The central celebration is the Masquerade, where Montserratians dress in colourful hats resembling bishops’ mitres, dance Irish Jigs, and crack whips in mocking defiance of their one-time Irish masters. Howard Fergus (a Montserratian historian) was quoted as saying “We are celebrating the rise of the slave freedom fighters, but also the rash Catholic element in our history. They both have a place in our legacy, which is celebrated on the anniversary of the Saint’s death.” Not sure

82 | THE IRISH SCENE

what he meant here but it sounded a bit like Ulster in the sixties! Only kidding.

Back home (for some of us) in Sydney, there are around 80,000 people who show up for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Family Day in Sydney, making it the largest such event in the southern hemisphere, and the only event in the world outside of Ireland to be organized and funded with support from the Irish government but I believe Perth commits for the whole week with a host of races, competitions, children’s activities, and a massive parade as the finale.

So what about Ulster? I have mentioned many times before that celebrations were not that great in the sixties but the folks there have witnessed the power of tourism and they do their best to entertain the populace and the tourists. I have lost touch with the many friends I had there and besides drinking, eating and visiting a few historical sites, I could not find many great happenings. Visiting my old church to see the Saint’s resting place has very little appeal for me but hopefully the visitors (and locals) will enjoy themselves on the day.

Although it began with Irish people celebrating all over the world nowadays, even non-Irish people claim to be “Irish for a day” and take part in the celebrations!

I will end this article where I began in hoping that the Irish rugby team will have had a good season and win the six nations by beating England on the 18th. Now that would really cap off a good year for the venerable saint.

As always, may your God go with you.

Go on Go on Go on The Go-Betweens

T

he three most influential bands of the 1980’s were The Smiths, REM and The GoBetweens. Each in turn was unmistakably English, American and Australian.

Smiths frontman Morrisey’s was fiercely connected to his Irish heritage (English Heart, Irish Blood) while the REM boys – Michael Stipe, Mike Mills and Peter Buck – all called Dublin home at various stages of their musical careers. Formed in Brisbane, Queensland in 1977 (just one year after U2 came together in Dublin) this Aussie indie rock combo had a die hard following in Ireland, Dublin particularly, where they played the Irish capital on several occasions. But a deep connection with Ireland that helped inspire and influence their song-writing skills emerged on Dublin’s Radio Nova recently.

“The Go-Betweens & the Irish Writers” was produced by former musician and music journo Ken Sweeney, a life long Go-Betweens fan. Sweeney asked Forster to join him at Beacon Studios in Dublin to tell their story and play some of the Go-Betweens classic songs on acoustic guitar. Coupled with an interview Ken did with his song-writing partner Grant McLennan in Dublin before his death in 2006.

The 50 minute ‘doco’ explores the origins of some of their unique songs and how Irish writers like James Joyce – whose work Grant McLennan and Robert Forster studied in Queensland University – inspired The Go-

Betweens to write about their own country, such as classic Aussie songs like ‘Cattle and Cane’, selected by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time.

While the Australian group never enjoyed anything like the same mainstream success as The Smiths or REM, founding members Robert Forster and bandmate, the late Grant McLennan have been hailed as ‘the Lennon & McCartney of indie’. Their music inspired bands from Franz Ferdinand to Teenage Fanclub and they remain the favourites of music journalists.

The documentary – which can be found easily on-line – caught the ear of Australian ambassador to Ireland Gary Gray, a music afficiando in his own right and spruiker of all things Australian in Ireland. Gary contacted Ken and the two caught up for breakfast and a chat. They also swung by the bust to the Ulysses author in Stephen’s Green.

While it has been some time since the GoBetweens broke up and McLennan passed away (2006) the link to Ireland persists.

Forster – who has published his memoirs and is currently writing a novel – is presently touring Europe and is due to play The Button Factory in Temple Bar on March 24. Every Go-Betweens fan in the city will want to be at the gig. Fans in WA will have to wait until May 13 for their chance, when he performs at Freo Social, Fremantle.

BY LLOYD GORMAN

THE IRISH SCENE | 83

Book Reviews

Books reviewed by John Hagan WHAT WRITERS READ EDITED BY PANDORA SYKES / BLOOMSBURY $24.99 In my youth libraries were generally viewed as book repositories with those venturing in succumbing to the revered ‘shush zone’. How things have changed. Today’s libraries are dynamic social centres offering not only access to literature, CDs and DVDs as well as being the locus of umpteen community and educational programmes. Despite this change in focus, Sykes writes that, ‘Nearly 800 [UK] public libraries have been shuttered in the last 10 years’, and as a member of the National Literary Trust (UK) she is endeavouring to buck the trend by creating 1,000 new primary school libraries over the next decade. To support this admirable cause, Sykes requested 35 leading writers to share their all-time favourite books, with all profits and royalties from ‘What Writers Read’ allotted to the Trust. In this entertaining and inspiring paean to reading and the life-changing power of books, authors such as Nick Hornsby, Sebastian Faulks, William Boyd and Sarah Collins write about the books which made them who they are. Elif Shafak describes the solace and freedom she found in Virginia Woolf’s ‘Orlando’ while growing up as a young bisexual woman up in conservative Turkey. During 1990, when she was binge drinking and suicidal, best-selling Irish writer Marian Keys discusses how reading ‘Cold Comfort Farm’ while on holiday in Santorini, turned her life around and showed her ‘how you have to intrigue people, how you have to pull the rug from under their feet and how you have to be funny’. Winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction with ‘Exciting Times’ (2021), Dublin based journalist, Naoise Dolan, recounts how ‘Schotts’s Original Miscellany’ (a book of selected trivia) blew her mind encouraging her to ‘Seek what you want, cherish what you find, but remember there’ll always be more’. While still a Belfast primary school student, Elizabeth Day, recalls how those causing carnage and death during Northern Ireland’s ‘Troubles’ never seemed to caught. She found comfort in Agatha Christie

84 | THE IRISH SCENE

where ‘the murderers …would always get their just deserts’, and how Christie’s impeccable plotting influenced her own journalistic ventures. Each of the 35 short contributions to ‘What Writers Read’ is a revealing snapshot into the writer as a person, told through the book that they were reading at that time, and how this book affected and influenced their own writing.

BLURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM

BY LOUISE WILLDER / ONEWORLD $29.99 Just before Christmas I met with two friends for our regular coffee and chat.

One of my companions placed the novel he was reading on the table and I noticed that his sister (an eminent Australian author) had endorsed the front of the book with a few glowing words.

‘So your sister liked the book’, I remarked. ‘She hasn’t read it’ was his reply. Was I more than a little naïve to think that writers who advocate for a book would have actually perused it? Well, according to Louise Willder it’s fairly common practice, especially amongst writers from the same publishing stable, to provide ‘author endorsements’. These are sometimes known as ‘straplines’ or ‘quotes’- all those little phrases on the book’s cover (‘thrilling and tense’, ‘an absolute rollercoaster’ etc etc) to entice buyer excitement and interest. And Willder should know; she has been in the book business as a copywriter for over 25 years.

During that time she estimates that she has written about 5000 book blurbs. And what’s a blurb? This is the 100 or so words on the back of the book which readers usually browse to discover more about the book contents. It’s the sales pitch text designed to persuade the book surfer to reach for their credit card. According to Willder, in the 10-20 seconds reading time she has to make a sale, ‘A good blurb should be perfectly balanced: set the scene, include just enough detail --- connect with the reader on an emotional level --- but leave them wanting more.

A good blurb is a mini-drama, with a conflict and movement all of its own’. This is a revealing, joyous compendium not only of the best and worst of blurbs, but also delves in to cover designs, taglines,

for Aisling

day for the Irish community and women all over the world”.

Book Reviews

A group of musicians played

traditional Irish airs and a fluteShe has left Louise in the car resulting in the mistake. adverts, quotes, writing tips and the storybook death secrets which determine the fate of aand novel.

Best fiddle as well as child’s a top with herfrom heat stroke. Subsequently, she is for trailthe charged with involuntary manslaughter seller or book end? In this tell-all on shameless county’s colours weresent amongst and criminal negligence. A grieving mother, literary promotion, Willder examinestributes and discusses laid out for the young Irish Susannah’s lifestyle and her every move becomes all the paraphernalia designed to hook (you) the woman who was in adition to being a the focus of a disapproving reader. But of course if you really want to know if vigil in nation.

Sydney Adelaide attendedGold, by dozens of promising and popular educator was a former New York Times journalist, now a starBronte TV you’re going to enjoy a book, apply the Marshall people on the hill above Beach and also‘page heavily with herwith localCNN who lives and breathes her job, is McLuhan (The Medium is the Massage) 69 involvedreporter spoke to the emotions felt by all who were sent to the Rice trial, but Adelaide harbours her test’. Open the book at page 69 and ifGAA you club like what and a musician in cover her own touched by her death. secret ultimately linking her to Susannah. you read, buy it! Willder’s funny, erudite, right.soul-rousing, Elaine O’ Gradyown whoguilty attended Coffey’s tale is much more than a taut courtroom and instructive expose on the publication industry the vigil tweeted: “The beautiful song “In front of the crowd on the grass, a row drama, it is a thought provoking, disturbing novel to will be loved by all with an interest in literature. You of the kookaburra who sangany along ofand candles a framed make parent stop thinkilluminates – perhaps there but photo may never judge a book by its cover again!. to the stunning of smiling young woman,” for the grace of God go I. We have all made our share traditional Irish of mistakes but few are subjected to wrote. living these out she Sunrise-watching in the glare of the judgmental media spotlight.

Coffey at beaches across the city

BY EDEL COFFEY / SPHERE $32.99 music at the underscores the many pressures facing the busy vigil tonight for is a staple social activity for Dr Susannah Rice is the woman who, working mother while exploring #AshlingMurphy lots of Sydney’s Irish expats. seemingly, has everything. She is questions about society’s attitudes Perth’s Irish community – like many It became popular a wealthy, 46 year old, Professor of in Perth,”. and perceptions aroundmore wealth, others in Australia and across he Paediatrics in a Manhattan hospital, a than ever during last year’s fame, success and guilt. According worldparenting – came together toher holdown a vigil guru with TV showSimilar events lockdown, when outdoor to its author, ‘BREAKING POINT were successful author of a staged in the(‘Doctor wake ofSue’), the and shocking murder became a novel that examines meetups were thehow only of Tullamore best sellingteacher parenting books. across Australia, of 23swathe year old we live now. It’s about burnout. opportunity for many of us, Married to John, New York including one at It’s about pressure. It’s about how Aisling Murphy while an sheeminent was jogging living thousands of miles from architect, she is the mother of two young having it all is a dangerous myth. It’s in broad daylight in her home town of the Amphitheatre our families,available to see friends. Bu daughters, Emma who is four and Louise about the lack of choices at Kangaroo Tullamore, Co. six Offaly in January. who is just months old. Susannah Saturday’s clifftop to people’. Coffey is a former RTEgathering leads an orderly, controlled, regulatedPoint, Brisbane “to remember her is by far the biggest I’ve ever seen at reporter and presenter, and it’s Hundreds of Irish people – including and all who have died by genderlife, until one hot summer day her tight easy to see just why this pacy, well Bronte...

The primary school teacher’s families withisyoung children, partcar based violence”, organised by the routine disrupted whentook John’s plotted, emotional narrative murder has deeply shakenwas many of us in in anrefuses evening walktoatmake an to time startvigil and and she has Irish Australian Support Association acclaimed as the Irish Independent Sydney. The mood among those gathered unforeseen rush to workin atKings the hospital. the Flame of Remembrance Queensland. A piece written for her.ie Crime Fiction Book of the Year in the on the hill this morning in to her19, daily medical by routine, ParkWell on January organised the itsby Anna Rourke described a sunrise 2022with An their Post candles Book Awards. hours before she realizes her dreadful is of sadness – and utter disbelief.”

Claddagh Association and supported

BREAKING POINT

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Paula from Tasmania

BY PAULA XIBERRAS

Astronomical Ability

BY PAULA XIBERRAS The title of Emma Harcourt’s novel ‘The Brightest Star’ is in reference both to the bright young female astronomer, Leonardo Lunetta and also the objects of her study, the bright stars of astronomy.

In modern times our colloquialism for a brilliant individual is that they are a ‘star’.

Lunetta’s name even is a glimpse to her area of expertise, all things lunar and of course her first name Leonarda is a reference to the great renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci.

Due to her gender Leonardo Lunetta is frustrated in her ambitions. Although Lunetta is based on no one particular historical character she does contain elements of real persons but is also a symbol of all young women with a passion denied following it due to gender.

Not only gender but also superstition of the times is also compliant in the parameters imposed on Leonarda.

Leonarda is born with a misshapen leg making her something to be feared or marked and so the usual female rituals of courtship are denied to her. This in not altogether bad as it means she has more time pour into put her academic studies.

Gender and the wrong time work against Leonardo but living in the wrong time for women has a positive as she is able to meet young astronomer Copernicus and dressed as a boy joins the circle of male discussions even though this is usually only allowed for wives or nuns.

Leonarda has an idol in one such nun Issota Natroli who had to take the veil to follow her own academic interests in writing.

Emma Harcourt has given us food for thought in Lunetta’s story and to young women of today, gives gratitude for the way forged for them by courageous women of the past to gain access to education and learning but of course there is much more to do to give women full equality in this and other areas.

The Brightest Star is out now published by Harper Collins.

86 | THE IRISH SCENE

Paws for Thought

BY PAULA XIBERRAS Jo Siggins and her talented mother Kay Hutchinson have brought to life the story of little dog detective Coco. Coco is based on their own same named dog. In the story Farmer Mike discovers a damaged tree and Coca is set on the task of finding out who is responsible for damaging the tree. Jo herself is a detective investigator and uses her own skills in the story, she tells me, when we talk that the book inspires children to not necessarily become detectives but discover the joy of solving problems.

Coco’s approach is to compare the various footprints around the tree to discover who might be the culprit.

The book is written in rhyme making it enjoyable and easy to read and remember and as Jo says can even be utilised as a sing-a-long book.

To allow readers to be confident in their reading the words used in the book are a mix of the familiar and the challenging allowing the reader to progress in their reading and increase their vocabulary.

The book looks to introduce fairness to children to teach fairness an example being Coco when she finds the culprit is fair in dealing with the culprit. Coco allows the misunderstood moose or rather deer to explain for himself and his species that rubbing their antlers on trees to remove the velvety coating that had developed over winter is an annual necessity.

Both Jo and her daughter being Coco’s family have the advantage of capturing the little dog’s character and image in writing and artistic representation so well as they are so familiar with her expressions.

Watch out for an individual project from Kaz soon as well as a Coco 2 adventure in the works.

Undercover Coco, the Pine, the Crime and the Mystery Footprint by Jo Siggins and Kaz Hutchinson is out now published by Virtuoso Pty Ltd.

BY MIKE BOWEN

S

t Patricks day is, has and will always be a great day for the Irish and for all those worldwide who want to be Irish on the day. I’m not sure if you’re going to be reading this before or after St Patricks day. If its before, I wish you the very best of Irish luck and don’t forget to wear your shamrock on the day. if it’s after I hope the hangover has passed by now and only great memories of the festival remain?

2022 brought great joy to Irish rugby fans as both Irish rugby teams, seniors and under 20s had amazing success, the under 20s winning the grand slam while the seniors won the triple crown and went on to add further glory in July, by beating the All Blacks on their home soil for the first time winning the series.

As if that wasn’t enough to put Irish eyes smiling again, they later went on to beat South Africa and Fiji in early November in Dublin. 2023 sees Ireland seniors retains their crown as the number 1 team in the world. The seniors and under 20s have started 2023 as the finished 2022, with both winning their first two matches beating Wales in Cardiff and France in Dublin. All fingers crossed as they head to France later this year to win and bring the Holy Grail, Web Ellis World Cup home to spend four years on Irish soil.

Somethings never change. when I came home the other day and turned on my computer, the screen filled up with emails from young middle eastern women offering me their hand in marriage. They must all be related to one and other as they all had the same story, only different names. I was flattered when I opened the first ten, but then I started to get a bit suspicious. I know I had a bit of a reputation as a young lad back in Ireland years ago, but this is ridiculous. Then I thought, maybe the wild romantic exploits of my youth have now become folklore in the backwaters of the middle east? stories carried by Irish migrants too far off countries. Or maybe the wave of Russians coming to Ireland who heard stories in dark pubs in West Cork or Kerry of my debonair wondering ways as Irelands Don Juan of the sixties and seventies.

Maybe those migrants had decided to document my past deeds in letters to their lonesome single female friends back home in the land of depleted nuclear bombs. I took it upon myself to respond to one of the girls named Olga, because that was the only name I could pronounce. I told her I was flattered that she would give up everything in her poverty-stricken native village and devote every second of her remaining time on earth to making me happy.

However, I told her there were a few points that should be stated by me up front as a matter of honesty. Firstly I don’t think my wife would take too kindly to you taking her position in the matrimonial bed, then there was the matter of who would be in charge of the household purse, as my wife is not the kind of person who hands over anything to anyone unless they have a gun so the chances of her ever getting any money for anything from my wife would be like trying to get a song out of a dead man. I tried to explain in my best Russian which is zero that the language

G’Day from Melbourne barriers would also be a problem as would the fact that there was about forty years of a difference in our age’s. However, I did tell her there is always light at the end of the tunnel and if in the future my wife should find someone more perfect than me and move on, I would be only too happy to reconsider her kind offer.

I turned my computer on the next day to check my emails again for reply’s only to discover, that Hanze wants me to send him my bank details so he can check if they have my correct details and Freda wants to know if I want to buy some shares that are going to quadruple in the next two days.

Boris wants me to share part of a twenty million windfall he inherited with him just because some very respected business associate of mine passed my name on to him and said I was an honest guy.

Then, someone named Catrina got wind of my medical records and offers me a shipload of Viagra tablets at seventy-five cents a tablet almost as cheap as the ten tablets Moses got from God. For Goodness’ sake who are these mugs and how stupid do they think we are? I shouldn’t gratify those idiots by giving them names – let’s just call them Do Do’s. They must have IQs of peas and that’s giving them too much credit. So now ninety percent of my emails are Do Do’s. Two days ago, I went to the mailbox to check who was sending me Bon Voyage cards and long overdue cheques.

I don’t accept bills or disgruntled letters; I have them re-directed to a neighbour who is a more tolerant type of person for that sort of mail. I don’t know about you, but every time I go to the mailbox, I take a wheelbarrow to carry all the junk mail back to the house, no wonder we have very little rainforests left.

Anything you would ever wish to buy is in one of these pamphlets, brochures or booklets, everything from a pound of sausages to an electric organ. Beauty products showing perfectly shaped dolly birds to pimpled faced adolescent puberty developing young boys, all telling us, if we use such and such face creams we will get my youth back again, a bargain at any price. But what happens if I get my good looks back and my old legs can’t keep up with the demand of all the young girls chasing me? No problem, I can buy a motorized buggies at a 40% discount to escape the pursuers, but if I happen to be unlucky and get overrun by gorgeous young ladies, then that’s something I will have to suck up and live with.

If I laid all the junk mail, I receive in a year side by side I bet you I would be able to wallpaper every house in Ireland and have some left over. If the volume of junk mail gets any bigger, I’m thinking of taking on a fulltime person just to clear and sort the mail, ninety percent of which is junk.

I will write to Bill Gates and ask him is there any hope that before I go to sing with the heavenly choir that sanity might return to my computer, and he could teach all computers to eat SPAM instead of throwing it up on our desks. Am I the exception, or are others inundated with this sort of nonsense? I wonder. Until next time.

Be good to those who love you and Slainte from Melbourne. Mike

THE IRISH SCENE | 87

Australian Irish Dancing Association Inc. This year the World Irish Dancing Championships are being held 2nd-9th April 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Western Australia is lucky enough to have 29 representatives in this competition and we wish them all the best of luck.

Dancers competing at the 2023 Irish Dancing World Championships are: Sasha Brown, Kavanagh Studio

Isobel Ashley, Trinity Studio

Lene Brady, Kavanagh Studio

Aislinn Healy, O’Hare

Zoe Cahoon, Kavanagh Studio

Niamh Leahy, O’Hare

Ashleigh Hugo, Kavanagh Studio

Vaughan Cooper, WA Academy

Hayley Brooker, Kavanagh Studio

Brittany Pymm, WA Academy

Joel Brooker, Kavanagh Studio

Sahara Donelan, The Academy MA & WA

Niamh Glynn, Kavanagh Studio

Layla Barnes, The Academy MA & WA

Molly Stenning Alexander, Kavanagh Studio

Sinead Daly, The Academy MA & WA

Nova Rooney, Kavanagh Studio

Medbh Flanagan, The Academy MA & WA

Shannon Kennedy, Kavanagh Studio

Caoimhe McAleer, The Academy MA & WA

Tara Collis, Celtic Academy

Koral Smith, The Academy MA & WA

Faye Conway, Trinity Studio

Caitlin Bone, The Academy MA & WA

Georgia Western, Trinity Studio

Ciara Stobbie, The Academy MA & WA

Blythe Garry, Trinity Studio

Dara McAleer, The Academy MA & WA

Stella Ashley, Trinity Studio AIDA WA would also like to congratulate the dancers who competed at the All Ireland Championships in Killarney. Amazing results with Vaughan Cooper (WA Academy) 2nd Place, Dara McAleer (The Acadmey) 5th Place and Tara Collis (Celtic Acadmey) 19th Place. Good luck also to Molly, Nova, Niamh and Zoe from Kavanagh Studio who are competing in the Northern Irish Championships in Belfast.

WA Academy: Vaughan Cooper and Brittany Pymm

88 | THE IRISH SCENE

O’Hare: Aislinn Healy and Niamh Leahy

Trinity Studio: Georgia Western, Isobel Ashley, Blythe Garry, Stella Ashley, Faye Conwa

Irish Dancing AIDA WA EXECUTIVE 2023 President: Teresa Fenton TCRG Vice President: Katherine McAndrew TCRG Vice President: Hilary McKenna ADCRG Secretary: Megan Cousins TCRG Treasurer: Martina O’Brien TCRG Registrar: Jenny O’Hare TCRG WA Delegate: Caitriona Slane PR Representative WA: Sian Fitzgerald-Cain TCRG Taryn Owen TCRG

SCHOOL CONTACTS: CELTIC ACADEMY East Victoria Park & Karragullen www.celticacademyperth.com Siobhan Collis TCRG 0403 211 941

Kavanagh Studio: Back line (left to right): Hayley Brooker, Niamh Glynn, Joel Brooker, Ashleigh Hugo, Lene Brady Celtic Academy: Tara Collis

Front line (left to right): Molly Stenning-Alexander, Nova Rooney, Sasha Brown, Zoe Cahoon, Shannon Kennedy

KAVANAGH STUDIO OF IRISH DANCE Mt Hawthorn www.kavanaghirishdance.com.au Teresa Fenton TCRG 0412 155 318 Deirdre McGorry TCRG Avril Grealish TCRG THE ACADEMY MID AMERICA & WESTERN AUSTRALIA Subiaco, Wangara & Pearsall Samantha McAleer TCRG Dhana Pitman TCRG Kalamunda Lara Upton ADCRG 0409 474 557 O’BRIEN ACADEMY Joondalup www.obrienacademy.com Rose O’Brien ADCRG 0437 002 355 Martina O’Brien TCRG 0423 932 866 O’HARE SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCING Doubleview, Wembley Downs & Craigie Jenny O’Hare TCRG 0422 273 596

The Academy: Dara McAleer and Caoimhe McAleer

The Academy: Layla Barnes and Sahara Donelan

The Academy: Koral Smith, Ciara Stobbie, Medbh Flanagan, Sinead Daly, Caitlin Bone

Stephen Dawson MLC Minister for Emergency Services; Innovation and ICT; Medical Research; 12th Floor, Dumas House 2 Havelock Street, WEST PERTH WA 6005 Email: Minister.Dawson@dpc.wa.gov.au Telephone: (08) 6552-5800

SCOIL RINCE NA HEIREANN Rockingham irishdance@iinet.net.au Megan Cousins TCRG 0411 452 370 SCOIL RINCE NI BHAIRD Fremantle & Lynwood Tony Ward TCRG 0427 273 596 TRINITY STUDIO OF IRISH DANCING Morley, Midland & South Lake trinitystudiowa@gmail.com Eileen Ashley ADCRG 0413 511 595 Katherine Travers TCRG Nell Taylor TCRG Siân Fitzgerald-Cain TCRG Taryn Owen TCRG WA ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCING Malaga Glenalee Bromilow ADCRG 0410 584 051 Sue Hayes TMRF 0412 040 719

THE IRISH SCENE | 89

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CONTACTS: MARTY BURKE 0410 081 386 • MARI PARKINSON 0427 171 333 There is a hum of activity across our girls teams this pre-season! When they aren’t being put through their paces with beach training, they are down at the local Bunnings running a sausage sizzle. As if that’s not enough, they have even found time to do a 21km fundraising march, that’s right a HALF MARATHON!!

These girls have created something really special and we are excited to see them build on the success of last season.

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Dave Madman Muir, Madman Motors

•

Chris Williams, Muscleworx group, and

•

Frankie Atkinson, Muntz partners

Special thanks to Nicky Edwards for his powers of persuasion in getting sponsors on board.

Thanks also to our banner sponsors and various teamwear sponsors, several of whom have been with us for a number of years now.

And never forgetting the hardworking volunteers and committee members. If you are interested in getting involved with your local club in any capacity – coach, volunteer, committee member – please contact us at CSRFC2020@gmail.com

IPS provide property maintenance services to residential

and commercial properties in the Perth Metro area DO YOU NEED Carpentry • Electrical Work • General repairs • OUR PROPERTY Landscaping • Locksmithing • Painting • Plumbing & SERVICES Waterproofing • Kitchen & Bathroom Renovations • MAINTENANCE? INCLUDE: Gutters & Roof Maintenance

CALL IPS MAINTENANCE 0423 618 506 service@ipsmaintenance.com.au www.perthpropertymaintenance.net.au PROUD SPONSORS OF CARRAMAR SHAMROCK ROVERS FC • SPECIAL RATES FOR SENIORS!

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@GAAINWA

GAAWA The first ever Feile in Australia or New Zealand will be held on the weekend of March 11/12 at St Mary’s Park in Adelaide.

Held over 2 days and featuring teams at U10 mixed, U12, U14 & U17 boys and girls levels, the event promises to showcase the best young Gaelic Footballers from Western Australia, South Australia & Victoria.

Western Australia will be sending 5 teams – U10 mixed, U12/U14 Girls and two boys teams at U14 level. All our teams have been preparing well for the competition with training sessions taking place on Wednesday’s, Saturdays and Sundays over the last number of weeks. The teams are made up of players from Na Fianna Catalpa Youths & Gaelic Games Junior Academy of WA. We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our 2 sponsors for Feile, Shane Crowley of Ecocivils and James Culliney of PCH Civil for their support.

To help offset costs associated with our trip to Adelaide, a golf day was held at Maylands Golf Course on Saturday 11 February. 138 golfers

took part and our sincere thanks to all our sponsors and players who made the day such a great success. A huge thank you to the Celtic Academy dancers who entertained us after the golf and Peter McKenna for all his support in organising the day.

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St. Patrick’s Festival Weekend – Bunbury Join the festivities this St. Patrick’s weekend in Bunbury for the first annual Southwest Irish Community Group’s St. Patrick’s Festival 2023 with live music, Irish dancers, Irish food, workshops, family enyertainment and Guinness on ta, there is something for everyone!! Head

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to the St. Patrick’s Festival Bunbury Facebook page for more information.

Head on down to Hay Park Sports Pavilion for some Kids Gaelic football facilitated by Na Fianna Catalpa followed by the Fr. McCabe Cup featuring Bunbury Gaels and Na Fianna.

Saturday March 18th 9am -12pm

GAAWA Camogie/Hurling Thursday the 16th saw a big gathering at Yokine Reserve for a long puck competition in support of the Dillon Quirke Foundation. A big thank you to An Sibin and The Mighty Quinn for donating the winners vouchers and a huge well done to the winners Andrea Mangan and Paul Guinan.

Hurling/Camogie & Football Clubs: If you would like to get involved in a playing, coaching or at an administrative capacity each club has a presence on Facebook, to get in contact there are several options: • Message the GAA in WA Facebook page • Message the GAA in WA Instagram page • Visit www.gaawa.com.au for club contact details • Email progaawa@gmail.com or secretarygaawa@hotmail.com

CLUB DETAILS FOOTBALL CLUBS GREENWOOD Mens & Ladies Senior Football greenwoodgfc@hotmail.com

MORLEY GAELS Mens & Ladies Senior Football morleygaelsgfc@hotmail.com

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS Mens & Ladies Senior Football southerndistrictsgaa@gmail.com

ST. FINBARR’S Mens & Ladies Senior Football stfinbarrsgfc@outlook.com

WESTERN SHAMROCKS Mens & Ladies Senior 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

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

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facebook.com/ggjawa Call/text: 0415 048 425 Email: infoggjunioracademy@gmail.com ggjunioracademy@gmail.com Web: ggjaofwa.teamapp.com SPONSORED BY

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A Very Happy St. Patrick’s Day To All In The Irish Community From the home of quality meats.

58 Westchester Rd, Malaga WA 6090 - Phone 9249 8039 - Mon-Fri 9am-5pm & Sat 8am-3pm

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For any enquiries please contact: info@mcloughlinbutchers.com.au

PROUD SUPPORTERS OF THE IRISH COMMUNITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA