THE AUSTRALIAN IRISH HERITAGE NETWORK No 7, March 2009 PRINT POST APPROVED PP 336663/00047
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Ph: 9403 0000 discover more about our custom design service online at www.comdain.com.au discover more about our prestigious 1 acre lots at www.blackwoodacres.com.au Tinteán No 7, March 2009 Tinteán is a publication of the Contents Australian Irish Heritage Network Regulars PO Box 13095, Law Courts, 2 What's On Melbourne, 8010 3 Editorial: What we think we know, Meg McNena Tel 03 9670 8865 4 Letters Email [email protected] 6 News: Brigidfest Celebration at the Celtic Club and more… Web http://tintean.org.au 9 Word Watch: Is it a jeremiad or a philippic? Felicity Allen Published four times per annum 10 Irish language: Daonscoil faoi Chros an Deiscirt, Bearnaí Ó Doibhlin ABN 13643653067 11 News: Tenth Lake School – and all is well! Felix Meagher ISSN 1835-1093 12 Music: Printing scores from online sources, Stuart Traill 13 Bolg an tSoláthair/ Odds & Ends, Val Noone Editor: 16 Profi le: Martin Daly, Catherine Arthur Liz McKenzie 20 Miscellany, Joseph Murphy Deputy Editor: 30 Poetry: Lothar Luken, Nessa O’Mahony, Patrick Walsh, John Liddy Felicity Allen 44 Travellers' Tales: Irish settlement at Shoreham, Robert J F Butler Business Manager: Features Rob Butler 14 Centenary of the Old Age Pension in Ireland, Mattie Lennon Advertising: 15 Do NOT try this at home! Felicity Allen Marie Feeley, tel 03 5996 3343 19 The Great Financial Crisis and Eire, Felicity Allen Production: 22 A rock for all ages, Peter Kiernan Andrew Macdermid 23 At The Rock, Leo Kelly Other workers on this issue: 24 A compelling history, Greg Melleuish Peter Kiernan, Frances Devlin-Glass, 26 The Jacobite kingdom in exile, Michael Doyle Bob Glass, Catherine Arthur, Meg 28 A great day for the Irish, Patrick McNamara McNena, Kate Cliff ord, Rob Butler, Don McKenzie, John McMahon. Reviews 32 An inspiring era of Catholic intellectualism, Peter Kiernan with Patrick McNamara Views expressed in the articles, 34 An opportunity missed? Chris Mooney letters and advertisements are 36 A perfect addition to your bedside table, Peter Kiernan those of the contributors and not 37 The disappearance of Cork Docklands, Bill Anderson necessarily those of the Australian 38 Tradition in a new key, Renée Huish Irish Heritage Network or of the A memoir for family consumption only? Deirdre Gillespie editor. 39 Outlasting his opponents, Jeff ry Babb 40 A diversity of fortunes, Felicity Allen The cover features an image from Brenda 41 Reinvigorating old ideas, Maireid Sullivan Grimshaw. See page 2 for more information. 42 Shamrock celebrated in Australia, Patrick McNamara 43 Kerry’s football legend, Robert J F Butler
The Australian Irish Heritage Network to build and explore the Australian Irish identity. The maga- Membership is open to all with an identifi cation with Irish her- zine will welcome material which explores the big themes of itage. It was founded in 2007 to continue the spirit and work exile, diaspora and settlement. It will also encourage the tell- of Val Noone and Mary Doyle. ing of the micro-stories that express narratives of individuals One of its activities is to publish the magazine Tinteán and families. There will be a continual study of the political (meaning hearth in Gaelic and pronounced ‘Tintoyne’ – the and economic evolution of Ireland, and of the contribution fada on the fi nal á giving the syllable the dominant stress and which Irish-Australians have made to Australia. The intention the “augh” sound). is to explore and celebrate the playing out of the Irish heritage The AIHN offi ce is in the basement of the Celtic Club, 316 in Australia, past, present and future. Queen St, Melbourne. We express our thanks to the Club for its generosity. People are welcome to drop in. However we are Activities only there parttime so check fi rst. As well as the magazine, we hope to put on social and edu- cational events; disseminate news and information via the Objectives of the AIHN internet; off er recognition for service to literary and histori- This Association, as its primary objective, will produce a liter- cal endeavours; issue cultural and political comment, and ary magazine called Tinteán. The focus of the magazine will be research and record our heritage.
Tinteán March 2009 1 What’s on St Patrick’s Weekend Ceilidh ZHHNV0UV*ULPVKDZVDLGWKDWµWKHH[KLELWLRQLVGHGLFDWHG St Patrick’s weekend celebrations at St Columba’s Hall, Elwood. to my great-grandparents who were from County Clare and Fundraiser Ceilidh in aid of the Columban Partnership Project of County Cork and all the Celtic immigrants who decided to make St Kilda and Elwood. Early bookings appreciated. Australia their home. I feel a real connection to the symbols, the When: Saturday 14th March 2009. 7.30pm to 11pm colours and to my Irish ancestory’. Donation: $20 $QH[KLELWLRQRI%UHQGD*ULPVKDZ¶VSDLQWLQJVRIWKHSDJHV Band: “Five and a zack” of the Book of Kells will be held at: Bookings: Noreen Dempsey 9593 8374 or email jmwquinn@ 7KH &HOWLF &OXE 4XHHQ 6W FQU /D7UREH 6W 0HO- westnet.com.au bourne 3000 14th – 16th March Ned Kelly Country Tour ,QTXLULHVWR.LP/\QFK QHH.HHQDQ 3KRQH A tour of Ned Kelly country in September is being organized by www.celticclub.com.au Mr Phillip Moore of the Celtic Club. It is proposed that the tour The exhibition will be opened by Michael Keating, newly ZLOOWDNHLQVLJQL¿FDQW.HOO\VLWHVLQFOXGLQJ*OHQURZDQ0DQV- elected president of the IACC ¿HOG%HHFKZRUWK6WULQJ\EDUN&UHHNDQG3RZHU¶V/RRNRXW Philip Moore, Cultural Heritage Committee, Celtic Club, Mel- As part of the preparation for this tour participants can join a bourne. Ned Kelly Reading Circle on the theme of Hero or Villain. The SXUSRVH RI WKH 5HDGLQJ *URXS LV WR DOORFDWH GLIIHUHQW ERRNV WR 16th and 17th Conferences, 2009 and 2010 people and then come together for an overall discussion of the real The next conference, the 16th in the Irish-Australian conference and important issues behind and surrounding the life and story of series, will take place in July next year in Wellington, New Zea- Ned Kelly and his struggling community. Such readings and dis- land, organised by the ISAANZ Vice President Dr Brad Patter- cussions are open to all interested people and for those intending son. A Call-for-Papers has been prepared and has been published to take the tour, they are designed to better prepare them. VHH KWWS ZZZLVDDQ]RUJ&$//)253$3(56 $V\HWDVSHFL¿FGDWHIRUWKHWRXULVWREHFRQ¿UPHGGHSHQG- Oct08.pdf) In light of New Zealand involvement, the title of the ing on participants’ availability. The Reading Circle will be conference series has been changed from the Irish-Australian established in the near future to allow for adequate reading and Conference to the Australasian Irish Studies Conference (AISC). discussion dates before the tour. Registration of interested par- Inquiries should be directed to Dr Brad Patterson (brad.patter- ticipants has already begun. Inquiries are welcome. [email protected]). Phillip Moore, Ph: 9850 4468 Email:[email protected] Dr Dominic Bryan, who is Director of the Institute of Irish Studies at Queen’s University, Belfast will host the 17th confer- Bloomsday in Melbourne HQFHLQ%HOIDVWLQWKHPLGGOHRI WREHFRQ¿UPHG ZKLFK Annually celebrating James Joyce’s Ulysses on 16 June. In would mark the 30thDQQLYHUVDU\RIWKHVHFRQIHUHQFHVDVWKH¿UVW 2009, the theme is what James Joyce owes to Oscar Wilde, was held in Canberra in November 1980. whether he knows it or not. For details of upcoming events at WKH6WDWH/LEUDU\DQG&HOWLF&OXEVHHZZZEORRPVGD\LQPHO- Celtic Festival at Mornington Race Meeting. bourne.org.au After the success of the Celtic Festival in 2008, Mornington Rac- ing Club, in conjunction with Mornington Peninsula Tourism, is Exhibition of prints from the Book of Kells DJDLQKRVWLQJWKHIHVWLYDODVSDUWRIWKH&DUOWRQ'UDXJKW*UHDW According to Art Historian Iain Zaczek ‘The Book of Kells is Southern Steeplechase meeting on Sunday, May24 2009. WKHFURZQLQJDFKLHYHPHQWRI&HOWLF$UW,WLVDOVRRQHRIWKH¿Q- &KLHIH[HFXWLYHRI¿FHU0LFKDHO%URZHOOVD\VWKHFOXELVFRP- est illuminated manuscripts ever produced, combining intricate mitted to the Mornington Celtic Festival, featuring a top-class calligraphy with ornamental designs of exquisite beauty.’ country race meeting at Victoria’s top country racecourse. 7KHDUWLVW%UHQGD.UHOOH*ULPVKDZEHJDQSDLQWLQJSDJHVRI It will include the traditional Irish steeplechase and an impor- the Book of Kells in 2004 inspired by the amazing pattern, detail tant component of the carriage-driving national championships. and colour of the The Book of Kells. ‘When I returned to teach- 2WKHU&HOWLFDFWLYLWLHVDWWKHUDFHFRXUVHZLOOLQFOXGHWKH*UHDW ing after family leave I began teaching both Art and medieval Irish War Pipe, a `gathering of the clans’ for all the different Irish history. I stumbled on a page about the Book of Kells and was dog breeds, Ireland’s wee Dexter cattle, the Irish sport horse, the immediately struck by its brilliance. I painted a page to show the &RQQHPDUDSRQ\ *XLQQHVVDQG%DLOH\¶V,ULVK&UHDPVDPSOLQJ students what the colours would have originally been like before sessions, an Irish band, Irish dancers, and Paddy’s market craft the colour had faded.’ stalls as well as produce market. 0UV*ULPVKDZWRRNORQJVHUYLFHOHDYHDWWKHEHJLQQLQJRI The Celtic Festival is from 11.30am-4.30pm on Sunday, May 2007 and spent three months, painting the highly detailed pages 24 at Mornington racecourse, Racecourse Road, Mornington culminating in an exhibition of fourteen pages completed with (Melway 146 A3). the materials gouache on acid free cotton rag paper. One of the Any readers interested in becoming volunteers to assist with pages is a ‘Portrait of St. John’ which took 10 weeks of full time the organization of the Mornington Celtic Festival and Race painting to complete. Meeting on Sunday 24 May 2009 or for further information The longest time it took to paint one of the pages was ‘The about the festival please contact Michael Doyle: 03 5981 0201 or Portrait of Christ’ (the cover of Issue 7 of Tintéan) which took [email protected]
2 Tinteán March 2009 What we think we know The year 2009 or 4707 in the Chinese calendar – the Year of Little Star, how the ox and lamb kept time while the little star the Ox - already has many claims upon it. It is heralded as the of Bethlehem shone, the dangers of spilled salt and ladders, Year of Science, the Year of Astronomy, of Natural Fibres of the prayers to call the guardian angel, and songs about vales, larks, Gorilla, of Creativity. oilskins and hearths miles from our Nissen hut at Maribyrnong The year began in anticipation of Barack Obama’s Inaugural 0LJUDQW+RVWHO7KDWWLQKRPHIUR]HLQZLQWHUVWKDWVWLOOKDG speech. What would be remembered, echoes of predecessors? frost and baked in freckling summers without sunscreen. What would be promised? What would be forecast? How would There in the sixties we never saw three consecutive days change strut its stuff? He has made history, standing where no of 43 degrees: January 2009 set that record. The media and other black man has stood The president of the United States consumers lament the melt-down of infrastructure: train was born in the year of the Ox. This sign symbolises diligence, WUDFNVEXFNOHGE\WKHKHDWWKHSRZHUJULGGUDLQHGE\JX]- reliability, sincerity, strength, tolerance and ]OLQJ FRROHUV ZDWHU XVDJH VRDULQJ DERYH SUXGHQFH7KHÀDJJLQJHFRQRP\DQGSHDFH- the 155l daily target when the State’s water making will test the ability of his broad storage is below a third, unexplained deaths shoulders to bear heavy burdens. “This question, in Adelaide during the heatwave and ram- History colours hope with the geography SDQW9LFWRULDQEXVK¿UHVWDNLQJPRUHOLYHV of choice. Enlightenment to some is heresy central to many and hundreds of homes. Though our Sun- to others; exploration and expansion can be burnt Country can blame global warming, called exploitation; migration, the bold act disciplines, establishes DUVRQ LV UHVSRQVLEOH IRU PDQ\ EXVK¿UHV of leaving the known, can be experienced as While some brave Country Fire Authority LQYDVLRQE\WKRVHDOUHDG\WKHUH HDFKSUR¿W the lineage and volunteers save neighbours’ homes, their has its cost, for every story told there are own are engulfed. more forgotten, pertinence of To lose so much in one fell swoop, to The overarching theme of the Year of have to start again, to rely on strangers – Science is, ‘How We Know What We Know.’ knowledge.” these are elements of Saint Patrick’s story This question, central to many disciplines, in our own. Captured by raiders as a youth establishes the lineage and pertinence of in Britain, he was brought to Antrim as a knowledge. slave, his home, his freedom, the familiar )RXU KXQGUHG \HDUV DJR *DOLOHR ¿UVW lost to him. For six years he worked as a shone his telescope at the night sky; 200 years ago Darwin herdsman before escaping back to his family. But out of this was born and 50 years later he published, On the Origin of deprivation came his mission to the Irish and all that has Species by Means of Natural Selection; 150 years ago Birr entailed for history Castle in Offally housed the largest (4064 kg), most powerful :KLOH , DP ZULWLQJ WKLV QHZV IRRWDJH RI WKH EXVK¿UHV telescope of the Victorian period and Robbie Burns was born; prompts my cousin, Annie, in Donegal, to phone. Hearing 100 years ago plastic was invented as Bakelite; Shackleton – a WHQVLRQLQ$QQLH¶VYRLFH,IHDUDW¿UVWWKDWVRPHWKLQJKDV Kildare man – recorded a farthest South latitude 190 km from happened to a relative in Ireland. Instead I am the relative the South Pole, and Mother Mary McKillop died; 50 years ago causing concern. I assure her that we are safe in the city. To URFNHWVÀHZDW:RRPHUDWKHFDPSDLJQWRJUDQWIXOOFLWL]HQ- even complain about the heatwave seems petty after what ship rights to Aboriginal people began and public concerts at others in rural areas have endured. Bad news travels as they the Sydney Myer Music Bowl were launched in Melbourne; say. The only two reports of Australia I heard in the three 25 years ago the lands around Maralinga were returned to the years I lived in Donegal were the Port Arthur shootings and traditional owners and rock singer, Peter Garrett, fronted the controversy about politician, Pauline Hanson. My father Nuclear Disarmament Party; 10 years ago the Euro was born, took a similar call from his family in Tyrone in 1983 and uranium mining commenced at Jabiluka, refugees from the war FRQ¿UPHGWKDWWKH$VK:HGQHVGD\¿UHVZHUHQRWQHDUXV,W LQ5ZDQGDKDUYHVWHG¿UHZRRGDQGSRDFKHGLQJRULOODKDELWDWV has been years since I thought about my Dad saying into his in the Congo, statesmen at Stormont Castle hammered out the cream-coloured bakelite receiver, ‘No, we’re staying put – Good Friday Agreement and my family returned to Melbourne Melbourne isn’t burning.’ Now he and those who phoned him after three years in Donegal. have passed on. I am the custodian of this memory, the elder. Traditional story-tellers like the Seannachai explained how Stories survive only if they are told. Tinteán prompts and the tale about to be shared came to them. This established VWRUHVFRPPXQLW\PHPRU\DQGRSLQLRQ7KHPDJD]LQHUHFRUGV authority and interest. For centuries Irish history was largely the journeys, efforts, aspirations, connections and perspective written by John Bull or never unpacked from shipping trunks of the Irish in Australia. It stimulates pride and debate, send- by migrants who could not look back. In recent decades interest LQJ$XVVLHÀDYRXUVWRLWVLQWHUQDWLRQDOUHDGHUVKLSH[FKDQJLQJ LQJHQHDORJ\*DHOLFODQJXDJHDQG,ULVKFXOWXUHKDVÀRXULVKHG experiences of the Diaspora. The recent success of Brigidfest at the Celtic Club, blending How precious to all is our history, our home. PXVLF HORTXHQFH DQG OHDUQLQJ H[HPSOL¿HV WKLV ,QVSLULQJ WR At this time our thoughts go out to fellow Australians who have matriarchy and abundance celebrated! KDYHORVWVRPXFKDQGWRWKRVHZKRKDYHJLYHQVRPXFKWR¿JKW )URPWKHVDIHW\RIKHUDUPVP\PRWKHUJXLGHGJUDVS¿UVW ¿UHVDQGGLVWUHVV steps, naming words, the no and yes of fun, Twinkle, Twinkle Meg McNena
Tinteán March 2009 3 Letters Famine Rock anniversary IRXQGQLQH¿UVWFRXVLQVDQGWKHLUIDPLOLHV person of the millennium. My topic is Thank you for your very kind invitation and an aunt almost 90 years old. her contribution to the empowerment to attend the tenth anniversary of the Rita had spent her childhood in an RI ZRPHQ EXW , DP KDYLQJ D SUREOHP Famine Rock. My thoughts will be with industrial school in Tipperary and grew ¿QGLQJVXI¿FLHQWPDWHULDORQWKHSRVLWLRQ \RXDOO$WWKH¿UVWXQYHLOLQJRIWKH5RFN up not ever being contacted by the mother of Irish women in eighteenth century ZKLFK,DWWHQGHG,ZLOOQHYHUIRUJHWWKH ZKRERUHKHU:K\WKH\ZHUHVHSDUDWHG ,UHODQGVR,ZDVZRQGHULQJLI\RXFRXOG PRPHQW $W DJH JUHDWJUDQGPRWKHU QHYHUWRPHHWDJDLQLVDP\VWHU\DQGZLOO publish this letter in Tinteán in the hope Mary Bennett (née Dempsy) arrived here remain as such. We look to the future that some of the readers could point me in alone from Co Galway and later married QRZDVWKHSDVWLVJRQHIRUHYHU the right direction for resources. Louie Bennett from Boston who came 1RZIRUWKH¿UVWWLPHLQKHUOLIH5LWD Sr Noela Fox PBVM here after gold. Her faith and example has received birthday cards and Christ Noela Fox is at [email protected]. live on through the family today. mas cards from her family and it was au or at 1/ 55 Veale St, Wagga Wagga, Could I take this opportunity to ask wonderful to see the expressions of joy NSW. you to convey special good wishes to on her face as she opened each envelope Val Noone on his presentation which I and digested the messages inside. Her A congratulations am hoping will be in Tinteán (Editor: see newfound family accepted her into the 'HDU0DGDP page 22). fold and gave us a marvellous time. One I wish to congratulate the volunteer staff Mary J Weightman, Sale, Vic. FRXOGVD\¿IW\\HDUVWRRODWHEXWWKHIDFW of Tintéan on a great publication. is that she got there and found her roots The layout and presentation of the Honouring the Choctaw EHIRUHLWZDVWRRODWHDQGWKDWLVZKDWVKH magazine is professional and artistic Further to my letter in Tinteán ,VVXH desired. and the person responsible is to be com KHUHLVDPHVVDJHIURP'RQ0XOODQWKH We owe everything to the efforts of mended. The covers in particular are IRUPHU GLUHFWRU RI$FWLRQ IURP ,UHODQG Origins Information and Tracing Service well chosen and unless one has worked Dublin: in Ireland who worked tirelessly on our RQDPDJD]LQHVXFKDVWKLVQRRQHFRXOG 'DQQ\,ZDVVSHDNLQJZLWK EHKDOIIRUDOPRVWIRXU\HDUVXQWLO¿QDOO\ know the amount of work involved in an artist friend in England the LQ $SULO WKH PDJLF ZRUG FDPH putting it together. other day. He mentioned that WKURXJKIURPRXUUHVHDUFKHULQ*DOZD\ Many thanks to all of you and keep up there is a window honouring ‘Rita! I have found a relative of yours in the good work. the Choctaw at the Irish Centre &R2IIDO\+HLV\RXU¿UVWFRXVLQDQGZLOO Flora McDonald, Camberwell, Vic in Manchester. I had forgotten be delighted to talk to you.’ this. When I was working for We contacted cousin Joe and talked Speaking the Truth &RQFHUQ *DU\ :KLWH 'HHU RI for almost an hour. A bond was imme ,ZULWHRQWKLVDXVSLFLRXVGD\)HEUX the Choctaw and I went on a diately forged. On 28 August 2008 we DU\ WKH ELFHQWHQDU\ RI WKH ELUWKV tour of the UK to talk about the boarded the plane for Ireland where we of both Abraham Lincoln and Charles Irish Famine and the Choctaw met all of the family. The effort involved Darwin in 1809. Lincoln’s stature only link. We actually spoke at in getting there was so worthwhile. This FRQWLQXHV WR LQFUHDVH DV ZH REVHUYHG that centre. So we must have LVDVWRU\WKDWUHDOO\KDVQRHQGLQJMXVWD throughout President Obama’s inspiring planted a seed. new beginning. LQDXJXUDO FHOHEUDWLRQV ZKHUHDV WKDW RI 4 Tinteán March 2009 has especially become the life would be rediscovered. This is not These qualities were never more endorsers and sustainers of Mr to deny the real economic suffering in evidence than in ordinary folks’ Darwin’s theories. We feel that LQÀLFWHG RQ WKRVH ZKR KDYH ORVW WKHLU UHVSRQVHV WR WKH EXVK¿UH WUDJHG\ LQ the day has come when a most MREV DQG WKH VSHFWUH RI HPLJUDWLRQ DQ Victoria. Millions of dollars have avowed stand must be taken HYHQPRUHGDPDJLQJErWHQRLUWKDQWKH EHHQ UDLVHG ZDUHKRXVHV RI FORWKLQJ by all who are not ashamed to &HOWLF7LJHULVYHU\UHDO DQG SURGXFH KDYH EHHQ DFFXPXODWHG DI¿UP WKH 7UXWK RI WKH /LYLQJ 7KH 3UHVLGHQW 0DU\ 0F$OHHVH KRPHV KDYH EHHQ RSHQHG WHDUV KDYH God in His statements as to the UHÀHFWVWKHRSWLPLVPWKDWLVFKDUDFWHULVWLF been shed and shared. And all this in creation in Genesis at Sinai and of Irish society at this time. While not a time of economic stress and anxiety. to His written word throughout. resiling from the effects the global Nothing can alleviate the terrible losses We are content to know that GRZQWXUQ ZRXOG KDYH VKH VWUHVVHG WKH RI IDPLO\ PHPEHUV IDPLO\ KRPHV our own feeble voice will be SRVLWLYHV,UHODQGKDGD\RXQJDQGZHOO family pets. We can do nothing but drowned in the turmoil of an educated population who could help grieve over the terrible destruction of exultant anthem to the praise ‘turn the corner’ in the current economic WKHÀRUDDQGIDXQDRIRXUEHOHDJXHUHG of a man whose wicked and FOLPDWH6KHVDLGµ W KH,ULVKSHRSOHDUHD VWDWH%XWWKHRXWÀRZLQJRIJHQHURVLW\ ridiculous theories we hold to resilient people – we have faced recession and hospitality of ordinary people is a be awful blasphemies. before and come through the other side. source of great hope Let it be so. The day is ,W¶VLPSRUWDQWIRUXVWREHKRSH¿OOHGDQG Our state and federal politicians KXUU\LQJ RQ ZKLFK VKDOO EXUQ innovative as we face the challenges. could take a leaf out of President DVD¿UH:HVKDOOVHHWKHQZKR :HFDQORRNDWZD\VWRKHOSHDFKRWKHU McAleese’s book in rallying the has spoken Truth – God or Mr WR ORRN RXW IRU WKRVH LQ GLI¿FXOWLHV Australian community to face the Darwin. supporting organisations which assist challenges of economic hardship. A benevolent connotation PIERCE Dear Madam On a recent trip ‘home’ to visit family BODY WORKS DQG IULHQGV , ZDV VWUXFN PRUH WKDQ once by the upbeat attitude of journal Had an accident? LVWVEXVLQHVVSHRSOHDQGWKHFRPPXQLW\ in general to look on the bright side of Not your fault? OLIH GHVSLWH DQ HFRQRPLF UHFHVVLRQ ,W was the recession Ireland had to have DFFRUGLQJ WR PDQ\ SHRSOH VRPH RI :HFDQORRNDIWHUWKHSDSHUZRUN whom had never heard of Paul Keat ing. The absence of doom and gloom in JHQHUDOZDVVWULNLQJ,QIDFWWKHUHZDV 9$&&$FFUHGLWHG a kind of relief that riding on the back of the Celtic tiger had come to an end. Riding tigers might be exhilarating at 5HSODFHPHQWFDUVDYDLODEOH the beginning of the experience but to FRQWLQXHWRGRVRLVDQRZLQVLWXDWLRQ – staying on becomes an all consuming )OHHWDQG3ULYDWHZRUN pursuit and falling off – with its atten dant risk of being consumed – is fatal. But being able to get off because the $XWKRULVHG,QVXUDQFH5HSDLUHU beast is exhausted is probably the best FRPSURPLVH,QDUHFHVVLRQKLW,UHODQG obscene house prices could be allowed WRIDOOFKLOGUHQZRXOGGLVFRYHUWKHSOHD 81-85 Gadd Street, Northcote Victoria 3070 sures of a holiday in Ireland which their P 03 9482 4007 F 03 9482 6644 M 0412 348 876 SDUHQWV DQG JUDQGSDUHQWV KDG HQMR\HG E [email protected] W www.piercebodyworks.com.au the simple pleasures of community Tinteán March 2009 5 News Brigidfest Celebration at the Celtic Club offers an important opportu- to heal the divisions of Northern Ireland Celtic Club nity for members of the Irish community on the 29/01/09. However, the event was The feast of St Brigid was celebrated at and their friends to meet in conversation disrupted by a large group of protestors WKH&HOWLF&OXERQKHUIHDVWGD\WKH¿UVW and enjoy sharing the cultural inheritance haranguing invited guests including day of February. A committee led by we Irish-Australians have had bestowed Gerry Adams who was accused of ter- Marlene Shanahan have organised this on us by our Irish forebears. rorist activities by Cedric Wilson a for- annual celebration for six years now, and Rosemary Sheehan mer Unionist member of the Northern it goes from strength to strength. This Ireland Assembly. year about one hundred and twenty peo- Clerical Child Abuse Allegations The meeting eventually got under ple gathered at the Club to welcome the There was a photograph in the Irish way under the chairmanship of Chief guest of honour His Excellency Máirt’n Independent on Tuesday 8th January of Constable Hugh Orde, commander of Ó Fain’n, the Ambassador of Ireland 70 year old Fr. Michael Mernagh relax- the Northern Ireland police. Lord Eames and hear guest speaker Dr Diane Hall. ing in Dublin after his nine day trek and Denis Bradley, of the Consultative She captivated the audience, speaking from St. Coleman’s Cathedral in Cobh *URXSRIWKH3DVWSUHVHQWHGWKHEULH¿QJ about “Brigid’s Sisters – Women in the to the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin as an act They outlined a £300 million plan to Church in Mediaeval Ireland”. Seamus of atonement for the Church’s handling establish peace and stability in the Moloughney, President of the Celtic of recent clerical child abuse allegations. troubled province. Club welcomed us all to the Club, to The Bishop of Cloyne, Dr. John The plan includes the repatriation of HQMR\D¿QHPHDO7KLV\HDUWKH%ULJLG Magee, failed to tell health authorities the 4600 people estimated to have been Mart was introduced, and a range of that one of his priests was under inves- exiled from Northern Ireland by the Irish organisations offered information tigation for abuse despite claiming that paramilitaries. It also suggests an annual about Irish language classes, Tinteán, he was fully compliant with child pro- GD\ RI UHÀHFWLRQ DQG UHFRQFLOLDWLRQ books and St Brigid crosses for sale. tection guidelines. As the government However it concedes that a shared Guests were able to browse before and ordered a new probe into his handling memorial cannot be agreed on just yet. after the lunch, offering opportunities of abuse allegations in his diocese the Lord Eames and Mr Bradley are WR¿QGRXWPRUHDERXWPDWWHUV,ULVKDQG embattled bishop insisted that he would KRSHIXO WKDW µDW WKH HQG RI D ¿YH\HDU ¿ULQJXSWKHFUDLF not resign. Sources, close to Bishop period of investigations, overseen by Musicians Cath Connelly and Greg Magee, say that he will not resign unless the proposed legacy commission, a line +XQW ZHOFRPHG XV ZLWK ¿QH PXVLF directed by the Pope. ZRXOG¿QDOO\EHGUDZQXQGHUWKHSDVW¶ before Ambassador Máirt’n Ó Fain’n How likely is it that the Pope will act? But many victims’ groups are seeking led us in St Brigid’s Grace, the last verse Not at all likely if the example of previ- justice, not closure, and do not accept the timely for we Victorians, surrounded by ous popes (one of whom may be being plan. One of the main grievances of these WKHGHYDVWDWLRQRIEXVK¿UHV considered for canonisation) is anything groups are the claims that the British God bless the poor, to go by. In the meantime the diocese is security forces were engaged in a ‘dirty God bless the sick facing a number of civil suits as a result war’ colluding with terrorist groups And bless the human race. of previous allegations of clerical child from both sides. Another controversial God bless our food, abuse in the ‘70s and’80s and further SURSRVDOZDVWKDWDÀDWUDWHRI God bless our drink, civil suits now look possible. ($25,000) be paid to the families of All homes O God embrace. The Church seems to be hell bent on victims killed in the Troubles – whether His words in Irish were especially squandering every last vestige of credi- WHUURULVWSROLFHRI¿FHUJXHUULOODVROGLHU welcomed by those who are Irish speak- bility and moral authority at a time when or innocent bystander. ers; so too did they welcome him going these very qualities that are most needed The British Prime Minister, Mr from table to table speaking to members in Ireland, by young and old alike. Brown, said the British Government of the Irish community. Apart from the terrible suffering of would consider the report with great care Dr Diane Hall, from the University of those who were abused and their families before making its response. Melbourne, brought alive to us the life the saddest aspect of it all is the damage Source: The Australian 30/01/09 and times of Brigid. Her slides of the to the church as a whole and to the vast mediaeval convents told us much about PDMRULW\RISULHVWVZKRVHOÀHVVO\GHYRWH Withdrawal of free Medical VRFLHW\LQ¿UVWFHQWXU\,UHODQGDQGKRZ their lives to the practice of their voca- Cards for the elderly Brigid led the way in establishing reli- tion. On the 15th October 2008 an angry grey gious communities that were places of Joseph Murphy DUP\EURXJKWWUDI¿FWRDVWDQGVWLOOLQWKH prayer as well as for art and creativity. streets of Dublin outside Leinster House. Devotion to Brigid mirrors the Marian Healing the rifts? They came from all over Ireland. Some, tradition of Ireland; Brigid was a leader, The Europa Hotel in Belfast – reputed to who were physically handicapped, made a woman who demonstrated care for oth- be the world’s most bombed hotel – was a supreme effort to be part of this army ers in very practical ways. the venue for the publication of a gov- whose anger was suffused with mas- The Brigidfest Celebration at the ernment commissioned report on how sive feelings of betrayal and injustice. 6 Tinteán March 2009 The reason? The governments plan to Disappearance of a South readers who will have had friends and remove free medical cards from tens of Uist man family members involved in this tragedy, thousands of elderly people. In a story that recalls many eerie Celtic either as victims, survivors or volunteers 7KH\FDUULHGSODFDUGVUHDGLQJ stories of disappearances, a South Uist DVVLVWLQJ ZLWK ¿UH¿JKWLQJ RU UHOLHI x Cowan, Harney, Lenihan bloated man has been missing since Boxing Day. operations. with excess while taking from seniors Simon MacMillan, merchant seaman The task of dealing with this catas- and children. and noted performer on the bagpipes, trophe will not be easy and it will take xPoliticians are paid to go to work – was last seen getting off a minibus about considerable time before the relief effort See their expenses. Workers pay to go to 20 minutes from his home in Ardmore. can be concluded, despite the best efforts work. Pensioners are penalised for sav- He got off before his own stop in order of the government and non-government ing and living. WRKHOSDGUXQNHQIULHQGJHWKRPH$¿W organizations involved. However, in the xFianna Fail – you discriminate we’ll young man, Simon was well capable of midst of this devastation and personal eliminate the two miles walk even though the tem- loss, it is heartening to see that there 7ZR ZRPHQ FDUULHG D SRVWHU IRU D perature dropped to one degree above is arising a strong sense of community UHFHQWO\UHOHDVHG¿OPZLWKDVXEVWLWXWHG freezing that night, but he never reached which, with the many organizations photograph of the Taoiseach, Brian his home. Police, coastguards and 200 offering assistance, will see the rebuild- Cowan. The Film? No Country for Old volunteers have searched the small ing of these shattered homes and facili- Men LVODQGZLWKRXW¿QGLQJDQ\WUDFHRIKLP ties. 6KRFNHG *RYHUQPHQW RI¿FLDOV WULHG Police have asked householders to check All of us at Tinteán express our sin- to bluster and trot out platitudes and all outbuildings. cere sympathy to those affected. excuses but they were shouted down. Simon is the son of Angus MacMil- A week later Taoiseach, Brian Cowan lan, Chairman of the South Uist com- Ambitious plan for Irish Lan- was forced into a humiliating U-turn. He munity landlord Stòras Uibhist. His guage delivered an abject apology to pensioners trip home at Christmas was unplanned ,Q ,UHODQG RI¿FLDOO\ EHFDPH as he bowed to relentless pressure and and the result of an unexpected offer recognised as a two language nation climbed down over his plan to remove of a few days leave from his ship. It is within the European Union. The ambi- the free medical cards. known that Simon had been involved in tion of Peader O’Flatharta of Dublin City Fine Gael spokesman on health Dr. several incidents with other young men University is to dramatically increase the James Reilly welcomed the move say- on the island, and some of them are number of people using Irish in their ing, ‘they thought they could carry out thought to have arisen from his father’s daily lives from 70,000 at present to a this attack under the guise of patriotism prominent role in the community. There quarter of a million by the year 2028. To when in fact it was more like terrorism has been some local unhappiness with this end, he has enlisted the services Joe of the elderly.’ Angus MacMillan’s management of the Lo Bianco, an Australian born in Myrtl- 7KH 7DRLVHDFK¶V EDFNÀLS PHDQV trust. A recent decision of his, taken eford to Italian tobacco farmers. that 95% of pensioners will retain their against the wishes of local crofters, Joe Lo Bianco, who holds a chair free healthcare. Anyone over 70 with an may have contributed to Simon being in language and literacy education at income of less than €700 per week or beaten up more than once by local boys the University of Melbourne has wide €36,000 per year (€1,400 per week when he defended his father’s actions. experience in language policy and for a couple, €73,000 for a year) will The most serious incident occurred on has worked in Canada, Scotland, Sri qualify for a medical card. Halloween when Simon was taken to Lanka Vietnam Samoa and Singapore. Joseph Murphy a cemetery at Iochdar. He was tied to His work in Scotland caught the eye of a gravestone and left there for a large Professor O’Flatharta who had formed From our roving reporter part of the night. a consortium in 2007 and invited Arrived in a snow covered Dublin Police maintain that this is a missing Lo Bianco and his colleagues from airport. I am here for the human rights person inquiry, but after seven days of Wales and Switzerland to join with conference on 14/15 Feb marking the intensive search, they have scaled down him in putting a proposal to the Irish 20th anniversary of the murder of the level of the investigation. government just before Christmas. Belfast lawyer Pat Finucane and the Compiled from www.sundaymail.co They are awaiting a response from call for a public inquiry into his death. and news.stv.scotland the government. There are a number of leading human Lo Bianco admits that the goal to rights lawyers in attendance from the Bushfire tragedy increase dramatically the use of Irish USA and England, and senior govern- At the time that this issue of our maga- in daily life in Ireland is ambitious. At ment ministers will be attending a zine is in production, many of our read- the formation of the Irish Free State, pre-conference dinner. I will prepare a ers will have been touched in some way the emphasis was on teaching every- report for Tintéan readers when I return E\WKHUHFHQWWUDJLFEXVK¿UHVLQ9LFWRULD one the language which had suffered to Australia. There are Irish-Australian families who a severe decline in the 19th and early Bernie Brophy have lost property and there are many 20th century. ‘But there’s a big dif- Tinteán March 2009 7 News ference between teaching something ad encouraging people to use it’, Lo Bianco points out. The success of such No one as Irish as Barack OBama and enterprise would depend on three O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara SULQFLSOHV XVDJHSODQQLQJ±FRQQHFWLQJ There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama the language to modes of youth identity (in particular); ability – schools have You don't believe me, I hear you say to ensure that students have to have a But Barack's as Irish, as was JFK high level of skill in the language; and His granddaddy's daddy came from Moneygall attitudes – there needs to be positive A small Irish village, well known to you all disposition towards the language in the community, a recognition that the Toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a lama language is not about the past but the There's no one as Irish As Barack O'Bama here and now. Source: The Australian HES 21/01/09 He's as Irish as bacon and cabbage and stew He's Hawaiian he's Kenyan American too Another Irish-American He’s in the white house, He took his chance President? Now let’s see Barack do Riverdance When John F Kennedy became Presi- dent of the United States of America, Toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a lama his Irish ancestry was well-published There's no one as Irish As Barack O'Bama and the population of Dunganstown, Co. Wexford, rightly claimed him as one From Kerry and cork to old Donegal of their own. Well, unlikely as it may Let’s hear it for Barack from old moneygall seem, we have another Irish-American From the lakes if Killarney to old Connemara US President. There’s no one as Irish as Barack O’Bama The December 2008 issue of the magazine, Ancestry, reports that one of O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara the great-great-grandmothers of Barack There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama Obama, was a Mary Ann Kearney From the old blarney stone to the great hill of Tara whose father arrived in New York from There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama Ireland in 1850. An extensive piece of research by the author of the Ancestry 2008 the white house is green, article, Megan Smolenyak, has revealed their cheering in Mayo and in Skibereen. that President Obama’s great-great- The Irish in Kenya, and in Yokahama, great-grandfather came from Moneygall Are cheering for President Barack O’Bama in Co. Offaly. Moneygall, Ireland, has a Catholic O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara FKXUFK ¿YH VKRSV D SRVW RI¿FH D There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama national school, a police station and two pubs (of course). The Hockey Moms gone, and so is McCain Falmouth Kearney, great-great- They are cheering in Texas and in Borrisokane, great-grandfather of the President of the In Moneygall town, the greatest of drama, USA, Barack Obama, emigrated from for our Famous president Barack o Bama Moneygall to the USA at the age of 19 in 1850. Barack hasn’t quite ‘covered Toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a lama all bases’ though. His minders are fever- There's no one as Irish As Barack O'Bama ishly searching for few drops of French, Spanish, Jewish, and German blood in The great Stephen Neill, a great man of God, those cosmopolitan veins. An adoring He proved that Barack was from the Auld Sod public is waiting expectantly. The Song They came by bus and they came by car, can be accessed on YouTube by keying to celebrate Barack in Ollie Hayes’s Bar LQ WKH OHWWHU RI WKH VLWH EHORZ www. oneeyedparrot.org/obama.html O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara Perhaps, we should now refer to the There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama President as Padraic O’Bama. By Hardy Drew (www.corriganbrothers.com) Robert J F Butler 8 Tinteán March 2009 Jageurs Literary Award: honouring the great nationalist In 2005, the Cultural Heritage Committee Society he was also deeply involved in demonstrate ‘literariness’, an awareness of the Celtic Club established the annual the Melbourne branches of the Irish Land of the language arts that Irish writers have Jageurs Literary Award to honour Morgan League, the Irish National League and the become famous for. Such writing needs Jageurs and his efforts in promoting Irish later formation of the United Irish League to be self-conscious, artful, shaped, and culture in Australia and in helping the and he helped form the Melbourne Irish hopefully innovative. Manuscripts that establishment of the Celtic Club. Pipers’ Club. Patrick O’Farrell who wrote celebrate, or excoriate the culture, or take Why did the Celtic Club decide to The Irish in Australia says of Jageurs that any position in between are welcome. In promote the Literary Arts in the name of he ‘personally sustained virtually all Irish the past, the prize has been awarded to Morgan Jageurs? His story should be bet- organizations in Melbourne during his submissions that have taken risks in deal- ter known. active lifetime.’ ing with the heritage. The word-length can Morgan Jageurs was born 10th Octo- Like many Victorian men of his era, he be much shorter than the nominated 5000 ber, 1862 in Tullamore, Kings County, ZDVDSRO\PDWK±D¿QHRUDWRUDQGZULWHU words maximum if the medium is poetry. Ireland. He died on 27th April, 1932 in especially on Irish art and culture. He was Work that has been previously pub- Melbourne. He was an architect and prepared to speak on any occasion on lished is not eligible for submission, and PRQXPHQWDO PDVRQ DQG ZDV WKH ¿UVW WR the history and literature of Ireland and contestants can submit no more than two introduce the Celtic Cross to as a grave- LQ SXEOLVKHGD¿QHDUWLFOHRQ³,ULVK entries per person. Winning entries will stone in Australia. His great memorials Society”. One writer called him ‘the Irish be published in Tinteán. Information can be seen in cemeteries throughout Encyclopedia’. about the competition and closing dates Melbourne. His knowledge of building He organised and hosted many notable are to be found on http:www.celticclub. and architecture, was of great assistance Irish visitors to Australia including Dev- com.au/literary. Further information can in the building of St. Patrick’s Cathedral lin Donovan and the Redmond brothers. be obtained by emailing: info@celticclub. and St. Mary’s-West Melbourne. Michael Davitt, who visited Australia in com.au Morgan Jageurs was a nationalist the 1890’s, was godfather to his eldest son. If you are aware of closet writers who through and through, and a man of many The competition aims to stimulate think and read about Ireland and have enthusiasms, most of them focussed the production of new literary works things to say about Irish-Australia, then on Ireland. As well as being a founding with a consciousness of Ireland or Irish- please bring the competition to their member and President of the Celtic Club Australia – stories, one-act plays, poetry. attention. Or if you are one yourself, this and the Victorian Catholic Young Men’s 1RQ¿FWLRQ LV DOVR HOLJLEOH EXW VKRXOG may be a chance to strut your stuff. Word Watch Is it a jeremiad or a philippic? We’ve all been there – a brilliant idea went pear-shaped is too frequent..” and naturally that women’s fashions and some authority figure has burst into a loud ranting were going to hell in a hand-basket with “Laying out of denunciation of ourselves, breed, seed and generation. hair, ... or which is more abominable, naked Breasts, and No doubt with rising temperatures and falling bank mixed Dancings,” Who knew the Puritans got up to that accounts, this sort of thing will happen ever more often sort of thing? and so it might console those on the receiving end to be Jeremiads may be wearing, but a philippic is downright able tell a jeremiad from a philippic. nasty. Demosthenes took a set against Phillip of Macedon A jeremiad is a bitter lament about the state of society (hence the name) and tried to warn the world of the dan- and the sinfulness of those who inhabit it, deriving ulti- gers of the father of Alexander the Great by embarking mately from the Book of Jeremiah; not a happy chap! He on a fiery, damning speech. Not really a sensible activity might have been right about the rulers of Judah break- to undertake, philippics. Cicero was famously killed for ing their covenant with the lord, but some of those who following in Demosthenes’ footsteps. Even asking ques- leaped on the jeremiad bandwagon really gave it a bad tions about where exactly the evidence is seems to be name. Puritan ministers were fond of telling everyone hazardous these days, but what of the original subject that New England was falling into a decline. The Gen- of the denunciation? Apparently Phillip of Macedon took eral Court Synod of the American Puritans (1679) found the view that words would never hurt him and ignored people lamenting the fact that “..children and Servants Demosthenes, which makes me wonder if he really was are not kept in due subjection..” (shocking!) that “..the such a hazard after all. heathenish and idolatrous practice of Health-drinking Felicity Allen “..the heathenish and idolatrous practice of Health-drinking is too frequent..” Tinteán March 2009 9 Daonscoil faoi Chros an Deiscirt Reáchtáladh 14ú Daonscoil na hAs- ar siúl, mion-chúrsaí ar feadh uair go THE IRISH tráile idir 4-11 Eanáir i mbliana agus leith. I measc na roghanna a bhí ar mar is gnáth bhí am ar dóigh acu siúd fáil i mbliana bhí amhránaíocht, sean- a bhí ann. Reáchtáltar an scoil gach Ghaeilge, rince, an fheadóg stáin, cócai- PROGRAM samhradh le deis a thabhairt do mhuintir reacht, cluichí agus dráma a chuir go mór na Gaeilge san Astráil teacht le chéile ar leis an t-eolas. Ba ríléir go raibh díomá ar feadh seachtaine leis an teanga a chur i go leor daoine nach raibh siad in inmhe bhfeidhm agus í a fhoghlaim. freastal ar níos mó ná rogha amháin. Le blianta beaga anuas bíonn an scoil I measc rannpháirtithe na scoile bhí ar siúl in Lady Northcote Camp, in aice cúigear cuairteoirí as Éirinn. Mar is Éistigí le Bacchus Marsh, baile beag timpeall ar gnáth, bhí Nóirín Uí Chatháin as tuais- seachtó ciliméadar siar ó Melbourne. Is ceart Chiarraí ann. Tá Nóirín ag freastal áit an-oiriúnach í an campa don scoil mar ar na scoileanna ó cuireadh tús leo agus RADIO 4EBFM go bhfuil áiseanna maithe ar fáil ann. gach bliain tugann sí acmhainní nua as De ghnáth ní bhíonn ach cúpla gearán Éirinn do na múinteoirí. Ina cuideachta ag rannpháirtithe na scoile – an fáilte a an iarraidh seo bhí Máire Ní Chearúil. chuireann cuileoga na háite rompu agus Dála Nóirín, is iarbhunmhúinteoir í screadaíl na corellas go moch ar maidin! Máire, a bhfuil cónaí uirthi i gCiarraí Saturdays: Bhí corradh is seasca duine i láthair ag thuaidh. an scoil i mbliana agus d’fhreastail siad Tháinig an tríú cuairteoir, Conal 12.30pm–1.30pm ar ranganna Gaeilge ar cúig leibhéal éag- McCorry, ó Bhéal Feirste. Is aisteoir óg í súla. Bhí trí dhuine dhéag san ard rang, Conal atá ar saoire san Astráil. Tógadh le atá dírithe ar daoine atá líofa sa teanga, Gaeilge é in iarthair Bhéal Feirste, cean- South-East an líon is airde i stair na scoile. Anuas ar tar ina bhfuil forbairt suntasach déanta ar VLQEKt¿FKHGXLQHLUDQJDFHDWKDLUDQ an teanga le blianta fada anuas. Bhí áthas Queensland on dara rang is airde. Dealraíonn na líonta orainn freisin go raibh beirt turasóirí eile seo go raibh go leor daoine i láthair a bhí in ár dteannta ar feadh trí lá – Maeve in inmhe Gaeilge a labhairt, agus rinne McNamara as Cill Mantáin agus Sinéad 98.1FM siad a ndícheall an teanga a úsáid chomh O Donnell as Lubhadh. Tugann na hÉire- minic agus a b’fhéidir. Bhí sé an-deas annaigh óga fuinneamh agus eolas úrnua The world on páistí a fheiceáil arís ag an Daonscoil – dúinn. triúr acu _ agus leanbán. Mar a bheifeá ag súil leis, bhí seisiún www.4eb.org.au Chomh maith leis na ranganna, bhí ceoil ar siúl gach oíche, agus ar an oíche réimse leathan imeachtaí eile sa scoil. dheireanach bhí an cheolchoirm mhór. Gach iarnóin bhí imeacht ar siúl inar Bhí chóir a bheith gach duine sa champa bhuail cuid de na mic léinn sna ranganna páirteach sa cheolchoirm, agus thug a b’airde le mic léinn óna ranganna ní sí deis do dhaoine áirithe na scileanna b’ísle, le cabhair a thabhairt dóibh le nua a d’fhoghlaim siad i gcaitheamh na Ph (07) 3240 8600 haon deacrachtaí a bhí acu leis an teanga scoile a léiriú. nó le haghaidh comhráite as Gaeilge. “Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo arís” Bíonn an t-imeacht seo an-tábhachtach Bearnaí Ó Doibhlin [email protected] ag an scoil agus cruthaíonn sé atmaisféar (The Irish Language Association is comhoibríoch. proud to have received funding from the Gach iarnóin freisin bhí na ‘roghanna’ Irish Government for Daonscoil 2009) Ask Electrics Serving all suburbs, 7 days a week ARCHITECTS AND CONSULTANTS $OWHUQDWRUV :LULQJ UHZLULQJ 6WDUWHUPRWRUV Kevin 9326 7997 0413 101 360 (OHFWULFZLQGRZV [email protected] %DWWHULHV 'LVWULEXWRUV 331 Queensberry St, Nth Melb 3051 7HO 0RE $ULVWRF5G*OHQ:DYHUOH\ 10 Tinteán March 2009 Tenth Lake School – and all is well! I have been getting lots of feedback and Teresa O’Brien wedding that fol- The music sessions in the pubs were from people who went to the the tenth lowed on the weekend. once again a ‘mighty craic’. As well as Lake School 2009 in Koroit, and it is In general the performances and the Paddy Fitzgerald lead sessions at very pleasing and edifying. Thank you. songs written by young people were a Micky Bourke’s, there were the slow The week was blessed with some particular highlight this year. The Paddy sessions at the Commercial Hotel. Mark moderate weather. The camping was O’Neill Award group, Dram, lived up to McDonnell reported that there was a much more pleasant than it has been in expectations and their act included orig- great feeling at the Commercial and we the last couple of years, and was very inal songs. Original songs by Michaela look forward to the sessions continuing pleasantly packed out. The numbers of Hickey, Olivia Brooks-Meagher, and there next year. Late night sessions at students was the second best ever, and Emily Ann Meagher featured, and Geor- WKH%DVNHWEDOO6WDGLXPDOVRÀRXULVKHG many people rocked up on the opening JLD5RVHDWZHOYH\HDUROG¿GGOHSOD\HU Danny Bourke arrived to lead the day which boosted the enrolment. from Briagolong gave an indication Irish Music Master Class on Friday, the Once again we had a mix of people WKDWVKHZLOOEHDYHU\¿QHSOD\HULQWKH ¿QDOGD\DQGWKH0DVWHU&ODVVFDSSHG from all over the country: Darwin, future. off the great work done by the tutors Queensland, Sydney, Ballarat, Mel- The Koroit Historical Society made during the week. bourne, Geelong, Gippsland, Adelaide space available for us this year at the The Grand Ceilidh held on the Thurs- as well as Terang and Warrnambool. old Lake School (the building in the day at the Koroit Theatre with an atten- Some of the highlights included the background of the photo below) and dance of nearly 300 people went for Youth Concert at Crossley Hall, the Lou Hesterman and Ozzie produced QHDUO\¿YHKRXUVDQGDOWKRXJKDJUHDW Spud Poets Award at the Koroit Coun- DQG HGLWHG VRPH ¿QH UHFRUGLQJV RI WKH triumph raised the question yet again try Bakehouse (this year’s winner was week’s music, and sold nearly a 100 how to better stage and organise such a Clare Milesi) and the Ted Egan and Rant CDs. Brenda Osborne also took a very concert. concert at the football club rooms. We ¿QHVHWRISKRWRVRIWKHZHHN I would like to thank all the tutors hadn’t held a Lake School concert for The Lake School Newsletter worked and the committee for their efforts and seven years at Crossley Hall, and it was well again and it was good to get the to compliment the students and fami- great to be back there – some of us got a witty insights of DP Encarso (Lewis lies for their good spirits and excellent peek in at the Church which was looking Argall) who reported on some contro- behaviour. grand and ready for the Shane Howard versial and unusual topics. Felix Meagher Tinteán March 2009 11 Printing scores from online sources In the last issue we looked at online to track it down and let you know. You Remember that what you will get with music scores and how to purchase must provide an email address so they this method is just the music and none and print them using the new service can reply, but no other personal infor- of the photos, fancy artwork or stories from Allans music, but as usual mation is required. I enquired about that are often included in the printed there’s always more to it than meets the song ‘Lately’ by Stevie Wonder versions of music albums. the eye. which has a rather nice keyboard part The number of big name artists to and had an acknowledgement (rather a be found is quite impressive overall If the piece of music you are looking non-committal one) waiting in my but strangely some, eg Neil Young, are for is not found, then you can submit a email when I got back to work. This conspicuous by their absence. Maybe request online and they will endeavour had come from what appeared to be the Shakey’s agent is still holding out for real site behind the site, namely www. better terms. sheetmusicdirect.com that are based in Logging on to this site can also be A Very Happy London. This kind of revelation is not worthwhile financially because based uncommon in the online world. Ser- on the few pieces that I looked at, it St Patrick’s Day vices like this are invariably designed seems cheaper. You will of course be for a global customer base, but can then printing at home with all the attendant to all the Irish be onsold or rebranded to take advan- risks. If the paper gets jammed and you tage of local market opportunities. lose the print then you’ve done your Community from Sheetmusic Direct turns out to be the dough, so to speak, because you won’t online distribution outlet for two of the be able to save the onscreen image and world’s largest music publishers, Hal try again. Sibelius users may possibly Leonard Corporation in the USA and have recourse to a few extra options at Music sales in London. this point, but for ordinary ‘Joe Public’ 12 Tinteán March 2009 Bolg an tSoláthair/ Odds & Ends Belgian imperialists. The wedding party came back to me when I heard John stopped for a photograph at the Famine Spillane’s delightful rendition on his new Rock at Williamstown on their way from CD album, Irish Songs We Learned at the church to the town hall for the party. School. Spillane and the children of Baile an Chollaigh, Co Cork, make the Irish Mary Tondut rescued version of this Scottish song, ‘Trasna na In the rousing stories of the 1876 Catalpa dTonnta’, a highlight of his album. rescue of six Irish political prisoners from gaol in Western Australia, US-based Irish Bill Roberts and Mick McKeown revolutionary John Breslin is the one who There were two funerals on 12 January orchestrates the extraordinary escape that I needed to attend so I opted to go from his base in a Fremantle hotel. Sev- to the vigil service the night before for At the Famine Rock, Williamstown: eral writers have mentioned that Breslin, Bill Roberts at St Peter’s, East Bentleigh, Mark and Shina’s wedding party then about 38, seems to have fathered a and the Requiem for Mick McKeown. child with Mary Tondut, a 22-year-old Bill, 81, from the Mallee, was a wonder- Irish and Congo hotel maid. Did Breslin renege on a ful family man, an outstanding dentist, On New Year’s Day, at St Leo’s, North promise to take Mary to the USA or did a leader in the campaign to support an Altona, my wife Mary and I joined a very she change her mind about him? Richard independent East Timor and founder of happy gang of family and friends at the Cowan of Sydney has written a surprising the Aboriginal Dental Service. When Bill wedding of Mark Clarke, who we know little book which rescues Fremantle-born gave up a successful Collins Street prac- from Irish-language classes, and Shina Mary from obscurity. He has collected tice to move to the Aboriginal service in Mwamba, who comes from the Congo. details about the Tonduts, about Mary Fitzroy, he did so because his wife Joan The nuptial Mass was a knockout, Aus- and Breslin’s son who was baptised John and his daughters Mary Anne, Catherine, tralian, African and Irish rolled into one, Joseph Breslin in St Mary’s, Sydney, Genevieve and Louise encouraged him and the reception followed suit, music about Mary’s subsequent marriage to to do so. and dance and storytelling from all three Harry Thomas, and about Breslin’s later Mick McKeown, who I have been mis- streams. Mary and I had a small part in American family. Cowan who is a great takenly calling McEwan in this column, providing a copy of a 1960s vinyl of grandnephew of Mary throws in a few got a good send-off from Good Shepherd Congolese church music, Missa Luba. unsubstantiated family yarns as well. Hostel in Abbotsford following his death Shina’s father, Clovis, explained that the His book which is called Mary Tondut: on Boxing Day, aged 80. He’s the one wedding song on the album comes from the Woman in the Catalpa Story is good whose parents had been outstanding in the Mwamba clan’s home village so value at $22 including postage from an earlier generation for their support Mark and Shina used it in the ceremony. www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~rcowan/ work in Australia for a united republic in Clovis is a democrat and a political refu- tondut.html or by emailing Richard at Ireland. Con Tsorbaris, hostel manager, gee. It was a joyous occasion and there [email protected]. Helen Hart, a friend, and Fr Ernie Smith, were a couple of conversations too about chaplain, all spoke highly of Mick, his the struggle of the Congolese today, Westering Home sense of humour, his enthusiasm for Collingwood footballer Harry O’Brien, In grade seven at St Paul’s Bentleigh, Collingwood Football Club and his life Irish peacekeeping soldiers of the 1960s many years ago, Sister Petronella taught of hard work as a labourer on farms and as well as Roger Casement, an Irish her overcrowded class (of which I was in cities around the country. ‘He was a patriot executed in 1916, who did so one) the beautiful song, Westering true Aussie battler who lived a happy go- much to build international support for Home. Of course, I also heard the song in lucky life’, Con said. the Congolese in their struggle against the family and other settings but her efforts Val Noone Fundraiser Ceilidh Saint Patrick’s Day Celebrations in aid of the Columban Partnership Project of St Kilda and Elwood Saturday 14th March 2009, 7.30pm to 11pm St Columba’s Hall, Elwood Donation $20 om 7.00 am Band: Five and a zack Restaurant : Hearty Irish breakfast fr Joe Fitzgerald Trad Session from 3.00 pm the Bookings: Noreen Dempsey Quiet Front Bar : Live music from 11.30 am - 12.30 am Man The Borderers (S.A.), Irish Dancers, Face-Painters, 03 9593 8374 IRISH PUB Outdoor Street Party : trick will supply the good weather!!! or email [email protected] Food & Beverage Stalls . . . and pray Saint Pa (early bookings appreciated) 271 Racecourse Rd Flemington 3031 - (03) 93766232 www.thequietman.com.au Tinteán March 2009 13 Centenary of the Old Age Pension in Ireland ous helping of genetic memory around, the IRB, the Blueshirts and the Gaelic “If there is one man for, a favourite bargaining line was, ‘I League. He was a reporter with the remember the Big Wind’. (The Big Wind North Down Herald and Managing WKDWGRHVQ¶WORRNOLNHD was in January 1839.) So, if you were Director of the Abbey Theatre. As born in, say, 1849 and you were tooth- Minister for Finance he granted fund- SHQVLRQV¶RI¿FHUWKDWPDQ less, toil worn with gnarled joints and you ing for the Ardnacrusha Scheme but he had the right amount of elasticity in your will go down in history as the man who LVDSHQVLRQV¶RI¿FHU´ conscience you would probably ‘qualify’ WRRN D VKLOOLQJ RII WKH 2OG $JH 3HQ- IRU\RXU¿YHEREDZHHN(YHQLI\RXKDG sion in the 1924 budget. (Perhaps he John B Keane attained the half-century and the years had agreed with the sentiments expressed by EHHQ XQNLQG WR \RX SHUKDSV \RX FRXOG Norvin Green, President of the Western The Irish Old Age Pension Act was passed in the words of Louis MacNeice written Union Company, thirty years before, ‘It is one hundred years ago and implemented PDQ\\HDUVODWHUµ6LWRQ\RXUDUVHIRU¿IW\ not in accordance with the genius of our in January 1909. According to Economic years and hang your hat on a pension’. Government to pay pensions’.) The shil- Historian Cormac O Gráda it was, ‘argu- 6DPXHO-RKQVRQGH¿QHGDSHQVLRQDV ling was restored in 1928 but the pension ably the most radical and far-reaching ‘Pay given to a State hireling for treason was not increased again for twenty years. piece of welfare enacted in Ireland in the to his country’. Perhaps some of our So one hundred years on and if you are twentieth century’. more Nationalistic ancestors agreed with DQ2$3\RXPD\WKLQN\RXUDOORZDQFHLV It was paid on a graded scale at the age KLPEXW,FRXOG¿QGQRUHFRUGRIDQ\ERG\ paltry but what is the Net Present Value of seventy. refusing the pension on a point of prin- RI¿YHVKLOOLQJV"$QGLI\RXDUHRYHU Since compulsory birth registration ciple. By February 1909, pensions had DQGPDOH\RXDUHXQOLNHO\WRDJUHHZLWK was only introduced in 1864 it was dif- been granted to 4.1% of the population in George Bernard Shaw that, ‘Old men are ¿FXOWWRSURYHWKHDJHRIDQ\RQHRYHU Ireland as opposed to 1.1% in England. dangerous; it doesn't matter to them what years old. Determining age was open to ,Q SHQVLRQV ZHUH UHYRNHG is going to happen to the world. debate, a debate which, in the words of in Ireland and in 1919 the pension was Mattie Lennon historian, Diarmaid Ferriter, ‘the Irish won doubled to ten shillings. Mattie Lennon is an Irish writer and handsomely’. Perhaps there was a gener- Ernest Blythe was a member of editor. Congratulations to Tinteán Telephone: 03 9379 0981 3 Woodland Street Facsimile: 03 9379 0982 Essendon Victoria 3040 Email: [email protected] 14 Tinteán March 2009 Do NOT try this at home! The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum very slippery and eels are very supple. ‘the most frequently cited poultice is of has accumulated extensive archives of Folk cures applied across the full range FRZ PDQXUH RFFDVLRQDOO\ ZLWK UH¿QH- information about many diverse aspects of of diseases that rural people could diag- ments such as, this should come from one the local way of life and its folkways. The nose. While some of the diseases treated DQLPDODQGVRPHWLPHVZLWKVSHFL¿FDWLRQ data were obtained by circulating ques- are minor and not particularly threatening that it must be fresh.’ tionnaires on a range of topics to respon- to life, for example, sprains, some of them 1RWKLQJZRUVH,¿QGWKDQWKRVHFDUH- dents throughout Ulster – mainly during are not. Most people do recover from less, unethical practitioners who will insist the 1960s and 1970s. One of these was a asthma attacks, but every so often some- on using day old cow manure in medical questionnaire about ‘Cures and Charms’ one dies of the disease and licking the settings! The really hair raising aspect and Linda-May Ballard has written up the back of a newt seems unlikely to open the of the cow manure cures is the diseases responses in the Ulster Medical Journal. airways. Erysipelas is almost forgotten for which they are recommended. They Ms Ballard comments that her paper now, but it is a dangerous skin infection include erysipelas again, but almost unbe- UHÀHFWVDWLPHZKHQSHRSOHQHHGHGWREH caused by streptococcus bacteria. I sup- lievably, abscesses, burns and scalds! The ‘self reliant when facing illness’ which pose putting butter (it had to be unsalted!) very last medical situations where any may be true, but surely not this self- on erysipelas is harmless in itself, though VHQVLEOHSHUVRQZRXOGZDQWWRXVH¿OWK\ reliant! The power of the placebo – in it would be a lovely medium for the bac- old germ laden cow manure, fresh or not! other words, the ability of the human teria to grow in. My main objection would That brings me to the next question: how mind to effect a cure when no medically be wasting time on folk cures while some- on earth did scalded Ulster rural dwellers active treatment is given – is well known one is rapidly developing a high fever. survive? but little understood. This article will take Linda Ballard divides the cures into Charms were usually based on prayers you a long way past placebo territory; ‘plant-based’ and ‘poultices, ointments or incantations and often used in con- a stronger word is really needed for the and infusions’. She comments generously junction with the cures, but occasionally practices described here. What many that plant-based cures seem more rational on their own. Charms were more effec- of the cures seem to demonstrate is the than many of the others and they certainly tive if recited by powerful and effective remarkable power of the human body provide some lovely photographs of people such as blacksmiths, posthumous to resist virtually anything that you can things like Ribwort Plantain to illustrate children, seventh children and a married throw at it, provided you assure people her article. Apparently plantain does have woman whose surname is unchanged. that you are doing it to help them! some established anti-bacterial proper- Blacksmiths were often believed to have The paper is divided into ‘cures’ and ties, though she does not state what these magical powers derived from their abil- ‘charms’ with the cures referring to the are. She does remark though that the idea ity to smelt iron. A particularly alarm- use of various substances; some more of garlic as a cure for asthma strikes her as ing example of a charm was a cure for horrifying than others, to cure disease. ‘idiosyncratic’. A major problem would epilepsy in which the child’s head was The substances might be commercially be working out which plant was actually placed on an anvil and the smith struck based – Friar’s Balsam gets a mention, of meant from the various spellings and folk the other side with his hammer. Quite course it does! It was quite a favourite in names that are used. often the person providing the cure, nice my own childhood and still available in Nevertheless, pressing on into the sec- fresh cow manure no doubt, also recited distant Australia. Less orthodox healing tion on poultices, ointments and infusions, the charms. substances include thorns, baking soda, the reader gets a sudden understanding of The main impression left by this article buttermilk and butter. Goose grease and what Linda Ballard really meant when is one of admiration for the toughness of eel skins are very popular for curing she said that the plant cures were more the human body! Let’s all hope it’s genetic sprains; I suspected a form of sympathetic rational. While a honey poultice might and that we have inherited it. magic here, given that goose grease is well draw an abscess out, unfortunately Felicity Allen LONERGAN FAMILY FUNERALS INCORPORATING W.G. RAVEN EST 1849 ȱȊȱ ȱȊȱ ȱȱȱȱĞȱȱȱȱȱ¢ȱȬ¢ȱĴȱȱȱȱȂȱǯ Secure pre-paid funeral plan Providing Melbourne’s Irish Australian Community with personalised funeral servces at realistic prices. ȱȱĜȱȱȱŗŞŝȱȱǰȱĞȱ ȱřŖŜŞ DZȱ ȓǯǯȱȱDZȱŗŞŖŖȱŜśŖȱŘŗŗȱǻŘŚȱǼ Tinteán March 2009 15 Enrich your Profile life’s major Martin Daly, multi-media editor of The Age, Melbourne moments! When did you come to Australia? What do you miss most about I came in 1982, intending to travel for a Ireland? few years. I thought I’d go to India but My family and friends, especially the ended up in Australia. PHGLDDI¿QLW\DQGWKHFXOWXUH,UHODQGLV so much part of me and I never intended Where did you come from? leaving. Australia is my second home, I was born in Artane, Dublin, and grew though, and has given me many unique Ceremonies up there. opportunities. Tell me about your family. Would you return to Ireland? by My father came from Kerry and my For a few years, if the right job came up mother, Mullingar, Co. Meath. I’m the and Christina was happy. I’d never say Celebrants VHFRQGHOGHVWRI¿YHFKLOGUHQWKUHHER\V I’d never return. It’s my homeland. and two girls. When did Christina come into your What did you do before you left life? Ireland? I met Christina in 1995. She is from a I’ve always been a journalist and worked large Irish-Australian family and works as a reporter for the Kilkenny Press and, as a lawyer in Corporate Affairs. We The Celebrant Centre then, for De Valera’s Irish Press. During moved to New York when Christina was the early years of the Troubles, I spent posted there in 2003. I worked as a cor- provides professional time in Derry, which was a challenging respondent during that time. well-trained experience reporting from there. What do you do to relax? celebrants who Why did you come to Australia? I like reading, learning languages and create a personalised I never intended leaving Ireland but was swimming. I used to be a competitive interested in the history and culture of swimmer. I also like collecting Australian ceremony to suit any India and decided to travel. Instead, I art. I like art which portrays Aboriginal- occasion. FDPH WR 6\GQH\ ¿UVW DQG WKHQ ZHQW WR ity and the Social Realists of the 1950s work with the Adelaide Advertiser. It was and 60s who portrayed the poverty and an old, wealthy paper and gave me many grime of early Australia. Elegant certificates of opportunities to explore South and north- commemoration also ern Australia. I am interested in Aborigi- You mentioned languages. nal culture and history and this gave me Yes, I studied in Germany when I was available. WKHFKDQFHWRH[SHULHQFHWKLV¿UVWKDQG young and, later, when sent to Central and South America with the paper in Weddings, namings, What was unique about that? 1991–1992, I learnt Spanish. Whilst The opportunity to travel as a reporter to there, I reported on the volcanic erup- funerals – all are the outback and Aboriginal settlements, tions in Bogota, Colombia. enriched with which are so different from Ireland, was an amazing experience. Later, I You mentioned being sent to Can- personal story visited Darwin and spent three months in berra by The Age in 1993. Broome. I also visited the riverland wine- Yes. I was the political correspondent, designed by you. making areas of South Australia. reporting on foreign affairs, defence and trade, which gave me a good understand- Call the Celebrant What did you do after that? ing of Australian politics. I then moved to Melbourne and worked Centre for unique and on the Sunday Herald-Sun. I then moved Martin, you have had a remarkably lasting memories. to The Age and worked as Foreign Cor- interesting time in Australia. Thank respondent. During this time I spent 3½ you for telling me of some of your years in New York. experiences. 03 9419 0460 I’ve enjoyed my time here. It’s been a How often do you return to Ireland? unique experience and, being able to Usually about every two years. I went write about it, I hope, has enriched the www.celebrancy.com more often while my mother was alive. lives of the readers of our newspapers. Catherine Arthur 16 Tinteán March 2009 Australian Irish Heritage Network for lively and critical writing about the celebration of Ireland’s heritage in Australia TEAR OFF ALONG HERE TEAR OFF ALONG SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO Only $55 per year (4 issues) $XVWUDOLDQ,ULVKKLVWRU\ERRNV&'VJHQHDORJ\WUDYHOOHUV¶WDOHV SROLWLFVIDPLO\KLVWRU\UHYLHZVVSRUWFXUUHQWHYHQWV Just fill in the form below and post it to: Australian Irish Heritage Network, PO Box 13095, Law Courts, Vic, 8010 Yes, I want to become a member of AIHN $5 Yes, I want to subscribe to Tinteán (four issues per year) 1 year: $55 2 years: $100 Concession (1 year): $40 Overseas Airmail (1 year): $75AUD Yes, I wish to make a donation $1000 $500 $250 $100 Other TOTAL: $ 3OHDVH¿QGHQFORVHGP\FKHTXHPDGHSD\DEOHWRAustralian Irish Heritage Network for $______ ,KDYHWUDQVIHUUHGWKHWRWDODPRXQWRIBBBBBBBBWRWKH$,+1EDQNDFFRXQW %6% $FFRXQW In the To Account Description or Remitter Name¿HOGSOHDVHLQFOXGH\RXUVXUQDPHVRWKDWLWDSSHDUVRQRXUDFFRXQWVWDWHPHQW 3OHDVHFKDUJHP\FUHGLWFDUG Visa 0DVWHUFDUG $PRXQW &DUGQR ([SLU\GDWH / 6LJQDWXUH 1DPH $GGUHVV 6XEXUE State: 3RVWFRGH Phone: 0RELOH Email: 3OHDVHVHQG\RXURUGHUWR $XVWUDOLDQ,ULVK+HULWDJH1HWZRUN 32%R[ /DZ&RXUWV9LF Tinteán March 2009 17 Australian Irish Heritage Network PO Box 13095, Law Courts, Vic. 8010 +61 3 9670 8865 [email protected] 'HDU5HDGHUVDQG)ULHQGV TinteánPDJD]LQHLVWKHMRXUQDORI$,+1ZKLFKLVDQRWIRUSUR¿WRUJDQLVDWLRQHVWDEOLVKHGWR HQFRXUDJHWKHJURZWKRIWKHVRFLDOFXOWXUDOKLVWRULFDOOLWHUDU\DQGVSRUWLQJFRQVFLRXVQHVVRI,ULVK $XVWUDOLDQVTinteánLVUHOLDQWIRULWVSURGXFWLRQRQWKHZRUNDQGVXSSRUWRIYROXQWHHUVUHDGHUVDQG ZULWHUVDQGLQSDUWLFXODURIVXEVFULEHUVGRQRUVDQGDGYHUWLVHUV ,I\RXDUHDOUHDG\DVXEVFULEHUGRQRURUDGYHUWLVHUWKDQN\RXIRU\RXUVXSSRUW ,I\RXDUHUHDGLQJDIULHQG¶VFRS\RITinteánSOHDVHFRQVLGHUVXEVFULELQJ6XEVFULSWLRQVDUHWKH OLIHEORRGRIPDJD]LQHVVXFKDVRXUV:LWKRXWWKHPWKHHIIRUWVRIRXUYROXQWHHUVZLOOEHLQYDLQ 6RZHDUHDVNLQJ\RXIRUKHOSSOHDVH,I\RXZULWHRQWKHIRUPEHORZWKHQDPHVRISHRSOHZKR \RXWKLQNPLJKWEHLQWHUHVWHGLQVXEVFULELQJWRTinteánZHZLOOSRVWWKHPDIUHHFRS\ 7RDGYLVHXVRIMXVWRQHRUWZRSURVSHFWVZLOOEH¿QH,I\RXKDYHDORQJHUOLVWWKDWZLOOEHPRVW ZHOFRPHDOVR 9HU\PDQ\WKDQNV The following might be interested in receiving a free copy of Tinteán: Name: Address: Suburb: State: Postcode: Name: Address: Suburb: State: Postcode: Name: Address: Suburb: State: Postcode: Name: Address: Suburb: State: Postcode: Please complete this page, tear it out and post it to Tinteán, PO Box 13095, Law Courts, Vic. 8010. 18 Tinteán March 2009 The Great Financial Crisis and Eire The most recent development in Eire’s criticised plans to recapitalise it. been a sharp drop in the value of hous- H[SHULHQFH RI WKH JUHDW ¿QDQFLDO FULVLV The Anglo-Irish bank has a balance ing and equity prices since 2007, which is the Irish government’s decision to sheet of over €100 billion but it is heav- followed marked rises in value between nationalise the Anglo-Irish bank. Finance ily reliant on property development for 2003 – 2006. The drop in the value of Minister Brian Lenihan took this deci- LWVFDVKÀRZ0RUJDQ.HOO\3URIHVVRURI housing contributed to the Anglo-Irish sion shortly after a loan scandal caused Economics at University College, Dublin, EDQN¶VGLI¿FXOWLHV(LUH¶VFXUUHQWDFFRXQW serious damage to the bank’s reputation. said that government investment would has deteriorated from a balanced position The former Chairman of the Anglo- make little difference to the bank given the LQWRDGH¿FLW2QWKHSRVLWLYH Irish bank, Sean FitzPatrick, resigned in scale of the losses it was facing, estimated side, output has fallen to only 3%, but that December after he admitted that he had as between €15 and €30 billion. ‘For all it ¿JXUHLVQRZKLJKLQ(XURSHDQWHUPVDV failed to disclose an €87 million loan to will achieve, the money might as well be most other countries have shown larger him from his own bank. The former Chief piled up in St Stephen’s Green Park and falls in output. Public debt has fallen to Executive, David Drum, resigned next LQFLQHUDWHG¶ZDUQHG3URIHVVRU.HOO\ half its 1997 value; a very positive sign. day on the grounds that the discovery of Mr Lenihan reassured creditors that While there are clear warning signs, the concealed loan made it inappropriate the bank would continue to service its the relatively high level of output and for him to continue. obligations and employees that their the low level of public debt are reas- This discovery ultimately determined jobs were safe. Legislation allowing the suring. Against that, Eire is a member Mr Lenihan to nationalise the bank rather nationalisation will be put to parliament. of the European Financial Union which than trying to recapitalise it. He described The decision to nationalise the Anglo- means that the Dail’s power to change the undisclosed loan to the Chairman as Irish bank occurred against a background macro-economic policy if there is a sud- an ‘unacceptable practice’. Eire was the of intense debate about whether Eire was den down-turn is limited. There is no ¿UVWFRXQWU\LQWKHZRUOGWRRIIHUWZR\HDU DFWXDOO\ IDFLQJ D ¿QDQFLDO FULVLV 7KH option, for example, to allow individual unlimited government guarantees to its statistics on the Irish economy are mixed, members to cut domestic interest rates to banks; a policy other countries including ZLWKVRPHLPSRUWDQW¿QDQFLDOLQGLFDWRUV stimulate growth. Australia quickly followed. The decision VXJJHVWLQJWKDWD¿QDQFLDOFULVLVLVORRP- Compiled by Felicity Allen from to nationalise the bank was supported by ing, but others showing that the economy The Irish Times on the net and the Fine Gael party, which had earlier is healthy. On the negative side, there has European EconoMonitor Tinteán March 2009 19 Miscellany I recently visited the Award Winning Exhibition Yeats: The Life manuscripts that are behind glass more closely. The whole exhibi- and Works of William Butler Yeats at The National Library in tion is totally outstanding and an unmissable experience for any Kildare Street, Dublin where Sarah O’Connor was my guide. visitor to Dublin interested in Irish history and culture.’ She told me that the exhibition opened in May 2006 and will Joe: A fantastic achievement. run until October 2009. Visitors so far have numbered 115,000 Sarah: Yes. Everybody at the National Library was absolutely DQG$XVWUDOLDQVDUHLQWKHWRS¿YHPRVWIUHTXHQWYLVLWRUVWRWKH thrilled. website at www.nli.ie/yeats Joe: The exhibition must be a tremendous resource for students. Joe: I’ve seen the Online Exhibition and it’s the next best thing Sarah: Absolutely. We go out of our way to encourage student to being here in person. I would like to know about The Interpret involvement from the youngest to the most advanced. Britain and Ireland Award. Joe: I was impressed by the multimedia and ‘turning the page’ Sarah: It is a very prestigious award and it was presented on technology. The whole exhibition certainly does justice to one behalf of the Association for Heritage Interpretation to the Direc- RIWKHRXWVWDQGLQJ¿JXUHVRIWKHth century, as poet, publisher, tor of the National Library of Ireland, Aongus O hAonghusa, on playwright, dramatist and founder of The Abbey Theatre, lover, 30th November 2006. VWDWHVPDQ1REHO3UL]HZLQQHUDQGGHVLJQHURIWKH¿UVW,ULVKFRLQ- In their citation the judges describe how the exhibition uses a DJH:RXOGLWEH2.WRTXRWHIURP7KH6WROHQ&KLOGDSRHPWKDW variety of means of displaying Yeats’ life and work – screens show- has haunted me since I was a schoolboy? ing the text against his own or actors’ voices reading some of his Come away, O human child! best known poems, artefacts such as the carved lapis lazuli stone To the waters and the wild that gave rise to the famous late poem, (Lapis Lazuli) manuscripts, With a faery, hand in hand, ¿UVWGUDIWVOHWWHUVFDUWRRQVSDLQWLQJVDQGSKRWRJUDSKVPDQ\JLYHQ For the world’s more full of weeping than or lent by the Yeats family. ‘these were all considered to provide a you can understand. stimulating experience for the visitor.’ Especially impressive, they Incidentally which poem is the most popular with visitors? said, ‘is the information technology that enables one to scrutinise Sarah: Many people have commented that they enjoy listening Good Pals: Harry Boland, Michael Collins and Eamon DeValera. They later opposed Collins in the Civil War. © Justin Nelson 20 Tinteán March 2009 to poetry being read in the Verse & Vision section and particu- Joe: What do you think made it so special? larly the recording of Yeats reading ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’. Justin: I think that it was the inclusion of a detailed account of Joe: And your favourite is? Collins’ life as told by one of his nephews, another Michael Col- Sarah: ,WLVYHU\GLI¿FXOWWRFKRRVHDIDYRULWHEXW,KDYHDOZD\V lins, who became a close friend of mine, helped a lot. As well as loved ‘He wishes for the Cloths of Heaven’ WKDWUHDGHUVVDZIRUWKH¿UVWWLPH0LFKDHO&ROOLQV¶RZQFRS\ Joe: Sarah, You’ve been a wonderful guide. Thank you very much. of the Plenipotentiary Document signed by Eamon de Valera Sarah: It has been a pleasure. which empowered the delegates to ‘negotiate and conclude’ the On my way out of the building I dropped into the National Treaty on behalf of the Irish Government. Those who opposed Library shop where a particular book caught my eye, Michael the Treaty like to ignore these words. Collins – A Fitting Farewell by Justin Nelson. Justin is a friend of Joe: How did your second book come about? mine and a fellow member of the FARA Creative Writing Group Justin: I began my career in the 1950s as a Press Photographer who had already published Michael Collins – The Final Days. I before I joined the Irish Television Service in 1961. I donated asked him why he thought that yet another book, let alone two, my negatives from that period to The National Library. In return should be published with so many biographies and a hugely suc- I was given access to a vast collection of photographs relating FHVVIXO¿OPDERXW0LFKDHO&ROOLQVDOUHDG\DYDLODEOH" WRWKH,ULVK:DURI,QGHSHQGHQFHDQGWKHVXEVHTXHQW&LYLO:DU Justin: A 94 year old friend of mine who, like myself, had been with permission to publish copyright images, many of which a keen photographer offered me a set of historic negatives of the are unseen for 80 years. A selection of these are included on my Collins State Funeral. Rather than have them end up on a rubbish website www.michaelcollinsfarewell.com tip he knew that I would give them a ‘good home’. These pictures Joe: $ZRQGHUIXOTXLGSURTXR7KDQN\RX-XVWLQ LQVSLUHGP\¿UVWERRNMichael Collins – The Final Days. Sin a bhfuil go fol o Seosamh O Murachu. Slan agaibh go leir. Joe: I believe it ran to four reprints. Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone. Justin: Yes! Indeed. It’s not still on sale though – except occa- Joseph Murphy sionally it turns up on Amazon UK at substantial cost. Joseph Murphy is a writer and our Dublin correspondent State Funeral of Michael Collins 28th August 1922 © Courtesy National Library of Ireland and Justin Nelson Tinteán March 2009 21 Dr. Noone assesses the height of the rock A rock for all ages On the 4 December 2008, The Australian Irish Heritage Network hosted a function at the Celtic Club for members and friends. The main feature of the evening was a presenta- tion by Dr. Val Noone on ‘A Rock for Famine Immigrants to Victoria’. An attendance of over seventy people enjoyed the ¿QJHUIRRGDQGWKHHYHQLQJKDGDEXR\DQWVSLULW7KH&OXE excelled itself in its catering and service. The Network is encouraged to continue this initiative with many variations and combinations for presentations envisaged. To start the evening, Mary Kenneally gave a poetry reading. She had selected a poem by Brendan Kennelly, formerly of Trinity College, who happened to be a relative. Entitled My Dark Fathers it was eminently suitable, one line exclaiming: ‘since I am come of Kerry clay and rock…’ – a beautiful moment. Val Noone’s talk and illustrations on this familiar subject were novel and enlightening. He traced the causes of the Potato Famine in Ireland, England’s actions and reactions and explained the reverberations of these policies overseas. His gripping powerpoint presentation emphasised the cruel tragedies of the times, starvation and deaths, evictions and WKHHQIRUFHGÀLJKWRIDODUJHVHFWRURIWKHSRSXODWLRQ2I that forced emigration, many came to Australia. Val detailed this meticulously, illustrating how young orphan girls were gathered from the poor houses, protected and conveyed to 0HOERXUQHLQ¿YHVKLSVIURP As chairman of the Irish Famine Commemoration Com- mittee, Val had detailed personal knowledge of the establish- ment of the Famine Rock. His illustrations set out clearly the whole process from the origin of the rock in deer Park to the settling of it permanently in the ground at the Strand at :LOOLDPVWRZQWRPDUNWKHWKDQQLYHUVDU\RIWKHDUULYDO RIWKH¿UVWVKLS/DG\.HQQDZD\9DOJHQHURXVO\DFNQRZO- edged the roles of Boral Quarries and company director John /RGJHWKH:LOOLDPVWRZQ&RXQFLODQGWKH,ULVK$PEDVVDGRU RIWKHWLPH5LFKDUG2¶%ULHQZKRRI¿FLDWHGDWWKHXQYHLOLQJ RQ'HFHPEHU 7KHUHZDVJHQHURXVDSSODXVHIRU9DO¶V presentation and a palpable feeling of pride in that room for WKHVLJQL¿FDQWUROHWKDW0HOERXUQHKDGSOD\HG Each year, on the second last Sunday in November, the Network organizes a commemorative gathering at the Rock. Peter Kiernan, Conveynor, Australian Irish Heritage Network 22 Tinteán March 2009 At The Rock Above: Musicians, actors and historians help us remember Top left: A Kenneally reads a Kennelly Middle left: The magic of the Uillean Pipes Photos by Seán Kenan and Rob Butler By the set arrangement—2:30pm, second last Sunday of Novem- case of bad weather. ber annually—a large group gathered at The Famine Rock, Wil- There must have been very confusing thoughts going through liamstown, on 23 November 2008, for the ninth Annual Famine the minds of the orphan girls when they landed, but I often won- Commemoration, close to the hundred and sixtieth anniversary der what they would have thought of us, gathering at that spot at RIWKHDUULYDORIWKH/DG\.HQQDZD\RQ'HFHPEHU a monument to them and thinking of them, more than a hundred Val Noone spoke about The Rock itself and its impact; Peter DQG¿IW\\HDUVODWHU,KRSHWKH\ZRXOGKDYHIHOWWRXFKHG Kiernan spoke on the perils of sea travel in those days. So many things have changed there by now—but some Tributes included—from Mary Kenneally, a poem by Bren- things have not. The water of Hobson’s Bay is still salty, the dan Kennelly, The Story—from myself, a slow air on the union seagulls still look and sound the same, the black swans still pipes, The Mermaid Song / An Mhaighdean Mhara—from swim and dabble along the foreshore. There is another thing: 6HiQ.HQDQD¿GGOHSLHFHDQGUHHO3DGG\¶V5DPEOHV,Q7KH our music-making would have been very familiar to the girls. In Park & The Rocky Road To Dublin—from Janet Kelly, a song, those days, music was mostly made exactly as we have done— Ballinderry—from Kathleen Kiernan, a slip jig on the whistle, ordinary people, sometimes a professional, performing one at 7KH%XWWHUÀ\ DWLPH VRQJSLSHV¿GGOHÀXWHRUZKLVWOH0DQ\RIRXUVRQJV And Anne Ramage of Williamstown, a descendent by mar- and tunes were known then. Had the girls been able to see us, ULDJHRI%ULGJHW&RVWHOORZKRFDPHRQWKH/DG\.HQQDZD\ODLG I believe that only our clothes would have seemed strange to ÀRZHUVDWWKHIRRWRI7KH5RFNDKXQGUHGDQGVL[W\\HDUVDIWHU them. And music was so important in Ireland then. I really feel %ULGJHW¿UVWVHWH\HVRQWKLVSODFH in my heart that by gathering at that spot and making music as /HWXVUHPHPEHU they would have done themselves or heard professional musi- We generally spend some time together after pay- cians do, we make the connection which is so important a part ing our respects at The Rock. This time we continued our of our commemoration. conversation at the Breizoz Crêperie on Nelson Place, whose Leo Kelly owners had generously made a room available for our use in Leo Kelly is an Uillean Piper Tinteán March 2009 23 A compelling history There can be little doubt that there will What will go into the national be in the near future a national history curriculum being taught in Australian curriculum and what will be left out? schools from primary school through to Year 10. The previous government had been primarily concerned with teaching Australian history in Years 9 and 10. The current government has broadened its objective to include all types of history and the whole of the period of compul- sory education. There are positive aspects in what is being proposed. For one thing there is a commitment to a global approach to the study of history so that Australian students will be exposed to a range of cultures and civilisations. Certainly it is also good news for the history profession as it will provide them with a somewhat privileged place in Australian life. It will be history rather than social studies which will assume the role of interpret- ing the human condition for Australian students. Historians will acquire a con- siderable responsibility. At the same time a national curricu- lum is not without its dangers. As history is currently rarely taught as an indepen- dent discipline in schools outside New South Wales and Victoria there must be a concern regarding the capacity of many states to train adequately teachers capable of teaching the new curriculum. More importantly there is the issue of what exactly will go into the curriculum and how that content will be determined. Any curriculum can only include a lim- ited amount of topics and the selection of those topics will always be open to criticism. When I wrote a paper for the Austra- lian History Summit held by the previous government in 2006 dealing with what Australian students should know about Australian history I was criticised for try- ing to include too much. Then, the Com- mittee established by the Summit advo- cated three years of Australian history because their proposed content was too Photo by Lachlan Hardy ODUJHWR¿WLQWRWKHSURSRVHGWZR\HDUV 24 Tinteán March 2009 The issue is exacerbated by the so- The current government handed the unity – for example, he does not like called ‘History Wars’ and the fear that the task over to Professor Stuart Macintyre private schools – and hence is not all that content will be determined by ideologi- and a small committee. They brought interested in the variety and diversity of cal considerations rather than by student out a very general document in October the Australian past. need. In my paper I was concerned that 2008. They then held a series of con- At this stage one cannot be sure what two neglected areas, religious history sultations in November. As with all of the Australian component of the National and economic history, have a place. My these sorts of issues general intentions History Curriculum will look like but view was based on an examination of count for little and what matters will be given what is known of its key players the current New South Wales curriculum WKHGHWDLOLQWKH¿QDOFXUULFXOXP$ORQJ it is possible to predict what it might which was mooted as a possible model be like. One should expect a nationalist for the national curriculum. It ignored story that will tend to downplay the cul- religion and also did not really cover tural diversity of the period before 1945 the important economic reforms of the “Both Macintyre with the exception of the Indigenous Hawke and Keating era. In my view element. Its focus will be political and Australian students’ appreciation of the and Hirst are social with not much attention paid to past would be impoverished if they did the cultural and religious dimensions of not know about these aspects of Austra- over sixty; their human existence. It will have a broadly lian history. Left orientation that tells a story of The religious history issue caused QDWLRQDOLVPUHÀHFWV progress being checked by the forces of some spirited debate at the History Sum- reaction. mit with committed secularists such the concerns of an The real worry is that the National as Bob Carr opposed to including reli- +LVWRU\&XUULFXOXPZLOOUHÀHFWWKHSUH gious history content in the curriculum. older generation” occupations and concerns of a particular I would argue that Australian history generation, and that once established it cannot really be understood without an ZLOO SURYH YHU\ GLI¿FXOW WR FKDQJH WKH appreciation of the role of religion. Man- curriculum. Both Macintyre and Hirst ning Clark’s History of Australia is one with Professor Macintyre, the key play- DUHRYHUVL[W\ WKHLUQDWLRQDOLVPUHÀHFWV major work that has that appreciation. ers in the development of the Australian the concerns of an older generation that As religion is a major aspect of culture, section of the curriculum would appear came to maturity in the Whitlam years. it has informed the development of to be Associate Professor Tony Taylor One must wonder how their concerns Australia. For example, one reason why and Dr John Hirst. These three men have will connect with the youth of twenty- Australia is so different from America worked together since the early 1990s ¿UVWFHQWXU\$XVWUDOLD is because since British occupation of with the Commonwealth Department Finally one must ask about the process the continent it has always possessed a of Education on such projects as Civics through which the curriculum is being substantial Irish Catholic minority. Nine- Education and Discovering Democracy developed. This curriculum will provide teenth century America was always far and hence have a track record that can the youth of Australia with their picture more Protestant than Australia ever was. be examined. of the past. What goes in and what is This has shaped the nature of both Aus- We know from the experiences left out will help to shape the national tralian culture and its institutions. One of those who dealt with Discovering culture. Australians who care about their cannot understand Australia without an Democracy that they are not sympathetic history and heritage should have some appreciation of this basic fact. Moreover, to including a religious dimension to the opportunity to ensure that important given that a substantial number of Aus- study of Australia. Professor Macintyre aspects of that heritage are not left on the tralian children are educated in religious is the historian of Australian commu- rubbish heap. After all, Australians own schools, it would seem appropriate that nism and has been accused of being their history, not just the professional students at those schools should be given more interested in Australian commu- historians. the opportunity to explore their country’s nism than the more centrist Australian Greg Melleuish religious heritage. Labor Party. Dr Hirst has often called Greg Melleuish is an associate professor The real question then is what will go himself a conservative; he is primarily a in the School of History and Politics at into the national curriculum and what nationalist and a republican. He appears the University of Wollongong will be left out? to favour those things that foster national Tinteán March 2009 25 The Jacobite kingdom in exile Britain’s King James II and his Irish ‘Wild Geese’ For the Irish, after the Treaty of Lim- 1HZU\ 1HZWRZQEXWOHU &RUN .LQVDOH preserve them from any erick in 1691, service with the Irish $WKORQH$XJKULPDQG*DOZD\DVZHOO disturbance upon the account regiments in France was the only way as two major sieges at Limerick. of their said religion. WKH\FRXOG¿JKWIRUWKHLU&DWKROLFNLQJ One of the Irishmen to come to promi- Believing they had negotiated a treaty and for their enemy-occupied country: nence during the battles that followed that guaranteed the rights of their people, but for Britain’s deposed King James II -DPHV ,,¶V ÀLJKW WR )UDQFH ZDV 3DWULFN thousands of Irish soldiers then sailed the Irish regiments were not only a proof 6DUV¿HOG,WZDVGXULQJWKH¿UVW6LHJHRI ZLWK6DUV¿HOGWR)UDQFH6DGO\WKHWUHDW\ of loyalty to his person, but a proof that /LPHULFNWKDW6DUV¿HOGZDVUHFRJQLVHGDV WKDW6DUV¿HOGKDGQHJRWLDWHGZRXOGQHYHU he was still a sovereign (in exile). The one of the most promising military lead- EHKRQRXUHGE\WKH(QJOLVK:LWKFUXHO fact that the Irish regiments were de ers in Ireland. His capture of an enemy irony they would tear up the treaty and facto part of the French Army doesn’t FRQYR\RIVLHJHHTXLSPHQWDQGDUWLOOHU\ UHSODFHLWZLWKWKH3HQDO/DZVVWULSSLQJ OHVVHQWKHLUVLJQL¿FDQFH±DVWKHµDUP\¶ DW %DOO\QHHW\ QHDU 3DOODVJUHHQ EHWZHHQ ,ULVK&DWKROLFVRIWKHLUODQGSHUVHFXWLQJ of James II, these Irish regiments were Limerick and Tipperary, in a cavalry raid them for their religion and removing probably the only convincing demon- apparently guided by a rapparee known every right of citizenship. On this note of stration on the continent that he was still DVµ*DOORSLQJ2¶+RJDQ¶GHOD\HGWKH¿UVW (QJOLVK GLVKRQRXU DQG WUHDFKHU\ EHJDQ any sort of king. siege of Limerick until the winter rains WKHLQFUHGLEOHVDJDRIWKHµ:LOG*HHVH¶ µ$V ORQJ DV WKHUH LV D ERG\ RI ,ULVK IRUFHGWKH(QJOLVK'XWFK*HUPDQ'DQ- The morning of the 6th of October 5RPDQ &DWKROLFNV WURRSV DEURDG¶ 6LU ish, and French Huguenot forces to retire. 1691, saw 14,000 Irish Infantrymen &KDUOHV)RUPDQZURWHWR3ULPH0LQLV- For the Dutch, this achievement DVVHPEOHG RQ WKH &RXQW\ &ODUH VLGH RI ter Walpole’s government of Britain in PDGH 6DUV¿HOG WKH SRSXODU KHUR RI WKH WKH7KRPRQGEULGJHDFURVVWKH6KDQQRQ µWKH&KHYDOLHUZLOODOZD\VPDNH war. His generosity, his courage and his IURP /LPHULFN &DVWOH 7KH ,ULVK DUP\ VRPH¿JXUHLQ(XURSHE\WKHFUHGLWWKH\ commanding height, had already com- PDUFKHG SDVW 6DUV¿HOG DQG :DFKRSH give him.’ mended him to the affection of the Irish. ZDWFKLQJRQRQHVLGHDQG'XWFK*HQHUDO 7KH,ULVK%ULJDGHRI)UDQFHZDVDµELJ¶ When the cause of King James II was *LQNHODVZHOODVWKH(QJOLVK/RUGV-XV- brigade in the French army composed of UXLQHGLQ,UHODQG6DUV¿HOGDUUDQJHGWKH tices, on the other. ,ULVKH[LOHV,WZDVIRUPHGLQ0D\ Treaty of Limerick and sailed to France Those who chose to stay in a Wil- when France’s King Louis XIV gave on 22 December 1691, with many of OLDPLWH,UHODQG¿OHGRIIWRRQHVLGHWKRVH PLOLWDU\ DQG ¿QDQFLDO DLG LQ VXSSRUW RI his countrymen who entered the French ZKR FKRVH WR ¿JKW RQ DJDLQVW (QJODQG James II during the Jacobite war in Ire- VHUYLFHLQZKDWLVNQRZQDVWKHµ)OLJKWRI PDUFKHG VWUDLJKW DKHDG ¿OHG RII land. In return for 6,000 French troops, WKH:LOG*HHVH¶ with 1,000 of them choosing to enlist in /RXLVGHPDQGHG¿YH-DFRELWH,ULVKUHJL- However, what it is not widely known WKH(QJOLVKDUP\ ments (6,500 Irish recruits) for use in the LV WKDW VKRUWO\ DIWHU 6DUV¿HOG VLJQHG WKH (OHYHQWKRXVDQGPDUFKHGRQVWUDLJKW Nine Years War against the Dutch. These 7UHDW\RI/LPHULFND)UHQFKÀHHWDUULYHG DKHDG FKRRVLQJ WR FRQWLQXH WKH ¿JKW PHQ OHG E\ -XVWLQ 0F&DUWK\ 9LVFRXQW with reinforcements and many urged DJDLQVW(QJODQG 0RXQWFDVKHO IRUPHGWKHQXFOHXVRIWKH 6DUV¿HOGWRWHDUXSWKH7UHDW\DQG¿JKW Between that day and the 8th of Irish Brigade of France. on. This he would not do; having given 'HFHPEHUZKHQWKH¿QDOWUDQVSRUWVKLS The Irish regiments wore the red coat KLV RZQ ZRUG RI KRQRXU ± DQG KDYLQJ HPEDUNHGIURP&RUNRIWKRVHZKR of the British army as a symbol that Louis also pledged the honour of the nation of ¿OHGRIIKDGFKDQJHGWKHLUPLQGVDQGDOVR ;,9 UHJDUGHG WKHP DV WKH RQO\ µOHJLWL- ,UHODQG±KHNHSWLW left for France to serve in the Irish regi- mate’ army of Britain. In the Irish Bri- The Treaty of Limerick provided in ments of King Louis XIV and with the gade of France orders were always given article 1 that: exiled King James II. LQ (QJOLVK FRQVHTXHQWO\ PDQ\ *DHOLF 7KH 5RPDQ &DWKROLFV RI This time would forever be remem- speaking Irishmen probably learnt their this kingdom shall enjoy such EHUHGDVµ7KH)OLJKWRIWKH:LOG*HHVH¶ ¿UVW(QJOLVKZRUGVZKLOHVHUYLQJLQWKH privileges in the exercise of 7KHHPEDUNDWLRQRIWKH¿QDOVKLSZDV French army. their religion as are consistent a disaster. The men were gathered apart After the defeat of the Jacobites in with the laws of Ireland, or from their families and boarded onto boats Ireland at the Battle of the Boyne (1 July as they did enjoy in the reign WREHWUDQVIHUUHGWRWKHVKLSV 6DUV¿HOG¶V -DPHV,,ÀHGWR)UDQFH±RQO\WKUHH RI .LQJ &KDUOHV WKH VHFRQG µH[RGXV¶ DOVR LQFOXGHG ZRPHQ days after the loss. (Because of his deser- and their majesties, as soon as and children.) The women, believing tion of his Irish supporters, James became their affairs will permit them they were being left behind, jumped into NQRZQLQ,UHODQGDV6pDPXVDQ&KDFDRU to summon a parliament in WKH 5LYHU 6KDQQRQ DQG VZDP IRU WKH µ-DPHVWKH6KLW¶ 7KH,ULVK-DFRELWHDUP\ this kingdom, will endeavour ERDWV0DQ\GURZQHG2IDOOWKHRUGHUO\ held out against the odds for another year, to procure the said Roman embarkations of Irish troops leaving for ¿JKWLQJ PDQ\ VPDOO DFWLRQV DQG ODUJHU &DWKROLFV VXFK IDUWKHU VHFXULW\ France, this is the one remembered most. EDWWOHVLQFOXGLQJWKRVHDW&DUULFNIHUJXV in that particular, as may Upon arrival in France the Irish com- 26 Tinteán March 2009 Among the discriminations faced by Catholics and Dissenters (Presbyterians) under the Penal Laws were: t&YDMVTJPO PG $BUIPMJDT GSPN NPTU QVCMJD PóDFT TJODF 1SFTCZUFSJBOT XFSFBMTPCBSSFEGSPNQVCMJDPóDFGSPN t#BOPOJOUFSNBSSJBHFXJUI1SPUFTUBOUT t1SFTCZUFSJBONBSSJBHFTXFSFOPUMFHBMMZSFDPHOJTFECZUIFTUBUF t$BUIPMJDTCBSSFEGSPNIPMEJOHöSFBSNTPSTFSWJOHJOUIFBSNFEGPSDFT t#BSSFEGSPNNFNCFSTIJQPGFJUIFSUIF1BSMJBNFOUPG*SFMBOEPSUIF1BSMJBNFOU PG(SFBU#SJUBJOGSPN SFTDJOEFE SFOFXFE t%JTFOGSBODIJTJOH"DUoQSPIJCJUJOHBMM3PNBO$BUIPMJDTGSPNWPUJOH t&YDMVTJPOGSPNUIFMFHBMQSPGFTTJPOTBOEUIFKVEJDJBSZ t&EVDBUJPO"DUoCBOPOGPSFJHOFEVDBUJPO t#BOPO$BUIPMJDTFOUFSJOH5SJOJUZ$PMMFHF%VCMJO t0OB EFBUI CZ B $BUIPMJD IJT MFHBUFF DPVME CFOFöU CZ DPOWFSTJPO UP UIF 1SPUFTUBOUA$IVSDIPG*SFMBOE UIFA$IVSDIPG&OHMBOEJO*SFMBOE t1PQFSZ "DU o $BUIPMJD JOIFSJUBODFT PG MBOE XFSF UP CF FRVBMMZ TVCEJWJEFE CFUXFFOBMMBOPXOFSTTPOTXJUIUIFFYDFQUJPOUIBUJGUIFFMEFTUTPOBOEIFJS DPOWFSUFEUP1SPUFTUBOUJTNUIBUIFXPVMECFDPNFUIFPOFBOEPOMZUFOBOU PGFTUBUFBOEQPSUJPOTGPSPUIFSDIJMESFOOPUUPFYDFFEPOFUIJSEPGUIFFTUBUF t#BOPO DPOWFSUJOH GSPN 1SPUFTUBOUJTN UP 3PNBO $BUIPMJDJTN PO QBJO PG 1SBFNVOJSFGPSGFJUJOHBMMQSPQFSUZFTUBUFTBOEMFHBDZUPUIFNPOBSDIPGUIF UJNF BOE SFNBJOJOH JO QSJTPO BU NPOBSDIT QMFBTVSF *O BEEJUJPO GPSGFJUJOH UIFNPOBSDITQSPUFDUJPOJOMBX/PJOKVSZIPXFWFSBUSPDJPVTDPVMEIBWFBOZ BDUJPOCSPVHIUBHBJOTUJUPSBOZSFQBSBUJPOGPSTVDI t#BOPO$BUIPMJDTCVZJOHMBOEVOEFSBMFBTFPGNPSFUIBOZFBST t#BOPODVTUPEZPGPSQIBOTCFJOHHSBOUFEUP$BUIPMJDTPOQBJOPGbUIBU The editor revisiting history at the XBTUPCFEPOBUFEUPUIF#MVF$PBUIPTQJUBMJO%VCMJO Treaty Stone, Limerick Don McKenzie t#BOPO$BUIPMJDTJOIFSJUJOH1SPUFTUBOUMBOE t1SPIJCJUJPOPO$BUIPMJDTPXOJOHBIPSTFWBMVFEBUPWFSb JOPSEFSUPLFFQ manders were greeted with a message IPSTFTTVJUBCMFGPSNJMJUBSZBDUJWJUZPVUPGUIF$BUIPMJDNBKPSJUZTIBOET sent (rather than being delivered person- t3PNBO$BUIPMJDMBZQSJFTUTIBEUPSFHJTUFSUPQSFBDIVOEFSUIF3FHJTUSBUJPO ally) from James II proclaiming he would "DU CVUTFNJOBSZQSJFTUTBOE#JTIPQTXFSFGPSCJEEFOVOUJM5IF QHYHUIRUJHWKLVOR\DO,ULVKVXEMHFWV6RRQ MBTUQSJFTUUPCFFYFDVUFEXBT/JDPMBT4IFFIZJO after he made arrangements with Louis t8IFOBMMPXFE OFX$BUIPMJDDIVSDIFTXFSFUPCFCVJMUGSPNXPPE OPUTUPOF XIV that the 6,500 original troops that BOEBXBZGSPNNBJOSPBET KDG VDLOHG ZLWK 0RXQWFDVKHO LQ tA/P QFSTPO PG UIF QPQJTI SFMJHJPO TIBMM QVCMJDMZ PS JO QSJWBUF IPVTFT UFBDI should be incorporated into the French TDIPPM PSJOTUSVDUZPVUIJOMFBSOJOHXJUIJOUIJTSFBMNVQPOQBJOPGböOF Army as the Irish Brigade of France. BOENPOUITJOQSJTPOGPSFWFSZTVDIPòFODF Louis agreed these troops would be paid t"OZBOEBMMSFXBSETOPUQBJECZUIFDSPXOGPSBMFSUJOHBVUIPSJUJFTPGPòFODFT more than their French counterparts; the UPCFMFWJFEVQPOUIF$BUIPMJDQPQVMBDFXJUIJOQBSJTIBOEDPVOUZ Irish were to receive the same rates of SD\DVKLVHOLWH6ZLVVUHJLPHQWV-DPHV,, then arranged to collect the difference in &KXUFK $ SODTXH RQ WKH ZDOO RI WKLV the French Army, but were assigned to the Irish Army’s pay for his own up keep. church marks the approximate location the court in exile of James II, deposed 6DUV¿HOG UHFHLYHG D FRPPLVVLRQ DV RIKLVJUDYH+HZDVTXRWHGDVZDWFKLQJ LQ WKH µ*ORULRXV 5HYROXWLRQ¶ ZKRP OLHXWHQDQWJHQHUDO PDUpFKDOGHFDPS KLVOLIHEORRGHEELQJDZD\DQGVD\LQJµ,I Louis still deemed the legitimate King of from King Louis XIV and fought with this was only for Ireland.’ (QJODQG,UHODQGDQG6FRWODQG+RZHYHU distinction in Flanders until he was mor- Unlike the original 6,500 Irish recruits after many campaigns, the survivors tally wounded at the battle of Landen that formed the Irish Brigade of the were later incorporated into the original (also called Neerwinden), on 19 August French Army in 1690, the Irish Jacobite elite Irish Brigade of the French Army. 1693. He died two or three days after XQLWVRI3DWULFN6DUV¿HOG¶VDUP\WKDWZHUH Michael Doyle the battle, at Huy in Belgium, where he WUDQVSRUWHG IURP /LPHULFN DQG &RUN WR Michael Doyle is a Mornington LV EXULHG LQ WKH JURXQGV RI 6W 0DUWLQ¶V France were not initially integrated into Peninsula resident and writer Tinteán March 2009 27 A great day for the Irish Revisiting St Patrick’s Day in the 1950s In the 1950s, the main public celebra- ers the celebration would be some College, East Melbourne, and the band tions for St Patrick’s Day consisted of a combination of many of these reasons. of the Xavier College cadet corps fol- procession and a concert. In those days, Certainly it was many years since the lowed the Archbishop. The central the procession was always conducted GH¿DQW DQWLHVWDEOLVKPHQW DQG SUR schools, led by Br FP Bowler and St on a Saturday afternoon near the feast independent Ireland St Patrick’s Day Colman’s, the premier central school, day. The concerts were usually held on marches of the 1920s. But the memory followed the Jesuit colleges. The the night of St Patrick’s Day itself, 17 of those times would still be fresh in the bulk of the procession, stretching the March. When the feast fell on a weekday, minds of the authorities, our teachers length of Bourke Street and beyond the day was a much anticipated school and the promoters of the celebrations – comprised the colleges and schools of holiday. This writer took particular people of the generations of our parents the Melbourne Archdiocese pride in having a regular school holiday and grandparents. A variety of Irish societies, including granted in honour of his patron saint. What the Italian born or the sons of the Irish National Foresters, the Hiber- The procession itself was a most seri- Italian immigrants marching next to me nian Society, branches of the CYMS, ous affair. It was a grand parade without made of all of this is hard to imagine. Irish bands and other associations, fol- the tickertape and razzmatazz of the Plainly for them the march was a school lowed the colleges. This section included celebrated St Patrick’s Day parade in event in which they were expected to dancers from the Catherine Cosgriff and New York. It called for steadiness, smart participate. If many of our generation Geraldine O’Shea Irish dancing acade- appearance and precision marching. It with Irish ancestry were essentially PLHVSUHVHQWHGDVDÀHHWRIÀRDWVRQ/RX was eyes straight ahead: it was frowned unfamiliar with the events in Ireland Arthur’s tray trucks, suitably decorated upon to acknowledge supporters along from 1916-1922, what was their under- for the event. the route. It was suits pressed, shoes pol- VWDQGLQJRIWKHVLJQL¿FDQFHRIWKHGD\" In the main, the colleges and schools ished, neckties straightened and caps at Certainly, if for nothing more, the assembled in Queen Street, immediately the regular angle. While the school roll colleges were on display. The youth to the north of Bourke Street, outside the was not marked, to miss the march was a were marching proudly behind college RI¿FHVRIWKH0*0&ROXPELDDQGRWKHU most serious matter and akin to missing banners for their honour, in our case ¿OP FRPSDQLHV H[WHQGLQJ XS WRZDUGV Mass on Sunday. the honour of the Christian Brothers’ /D7UREH 6WUHHW DQG WKH FXUUHQW VLWH RI Most of Melbourne’s Catholic boys’ foundation college, in Victoria Parade, Melbourne’s Celtic Club. colleges participated in the procession. East Melbourne which, as the oldest 2I¿FLDOO\WKHSURFHVVLRQOHIWWKHKDOO In the late 1950s, with the progressive established, took up its place proudly as of the St Patrick’s Society at 470 Bourke introduction of girls’ colleges as march- the last of the boys’ colleges. Street West, proceeding easterly along ers, the numbers began to swell. It is ,QUHWURVSHFWWRWKLVSVHXGRSDFL¿VW Bourke Street to Parliament House, then a moot point as to whether the initia- marching in the procession behind bands veering left around to Albert Street, and tive to include the girls in the proces- and banners, as of the armies and trade RQWRZDUGV/DQVGRZQH6WUHHWZKHUHWKH sion was an enlightened step towards unions of yore, was something of a show marchers were dismissed. The afternoon equal opportunity for women, or sim- of strength and a latter-day representa- closed with the celebration of Benedic- ply an opportunity to provide an even tion of regiments being piped off to tion in St Patrick’s Cathedral. grander display. battle, as the Irish, the Australians and As the march reached the top of In celebrating St Patrick’s Day in the the Australian-Irish had done on many Bourke Street, the Archbishop’s car 1950s, what was it that we were com- occasions before – in their own defence would peel off to the right and stand memorating? Were we celebrating, or or in the defence of England and Empire at the steps of Parliament House from commemorating, or both? Was it the – as if the battle was still being fought where the Archbishop would take the memory of the achievements of the or, if not, we were ready for it. salute. glorious St Patrick himself? Was it the For many years until the early 1950s, The Advocate reported that in 1955 memory of Ireland and our ancestry? the Melbourne Irish Pipe Band, led by there were 10,000 marchers and 30,000 Was it re-creating and staging a little bit Joseph Burke, and then later the Irish onlookers, whilst in 1956 the numbers of Ireland in Australia? Was it a public National Pipe Band (INPB), led the had grown to 20,000 and 80,000 respec- GLVSOD\ RI WULXPSKDQW DQG GH¿DQW$XV- procession. They marched immediately tively. By way of contrast, elsewhere tralian Irish Catholicism? Was it a public ahead of the Archbishop, Dr Mannix, The Advocate reported that only 45,000 display of allegiance, loyalty and respect and his Coadjutor, Dr Justin Simonds, turned out in Rome for Pope Pius XII’s to Archbishop Daniel Mannix, the long- riding in a large Humber Pullman Cab- 80th birthday rally. The crowds were serving and revered leader of the Mel- riolet (roll-back canvas roof), which was thickest outside the Myer Store, at the bourne Catholic community? hired annually especially for the event. Swanston Street intersection and at To most participants and observ- The cathedral school, St Patrick’s select vantage-points near the Arch- 28 Tinteán March 2009 bishop’s car at Parliament House. Competition between the schools for the best marching unit was very keen. At school assemblies on the following Monday morning, the announcement of the results was eagerly awaited. Among the judges was the redoubtable Irish National Pipe Band Melbourne, St Patrick’s Day, 1950s. Leading: Drum CX O’Driscoll, the inspector of schools, Major Seamus Daly. Marshals: left, Paddy Power, right, Harry Murray Paul Power who supervised the schools’ section of the march. either solo or by groups. On one special protect their drum skins from light On most St Patrick’s Days, the bands occasion, the famous Fr Sydney MacE- rain. Peter expressed his concern to would complete the procession and then wan, appeared. Fr McEwan was actually Joe McSpirritt who said, “Don’t worry, be driven back to the start, to march a Scottish but no one seemed to bother. the rain will stop before the procession second time to provide marching music The concert director was Dr Percy starts. Peter, I have been marching in for the schools. Jones, the director of the Cathedral St Patrick’s Day marches all of my life After the march, attendance at choir and later professor of music at the and the rain always stops in time for the Benediction was recommended but not University of Melbourne. Jack Scott of march.” And it did. mandatory. By the time we reached Preston was the Secretary of the Concert Following the march in 1957, some Albert Street and were dismissed, the Committee of the St Patrick’s Soci- younger INPB members visited the Ris- whole area was crowded and generally ety and also the Secretary of the Irish LQJ6XQ+RWHOLQ/\JRQ6WUHHW&DUOWRQ chaotic, and the cathedral was usually National Foresters. and staged an impromptu concert. The ¿OOHG WR RYHUÀRZLQJ ,Q WKLV VLWXDWLRQ Peter Roberts recalls that in 1955 patrons quickly organised a collection. our preferred option, in 1957 at least, he was invited by Paul Power to attend Too young to drink, but old enough was to turn back into the city to the the practice of the INPB at St Brigid’s to know the value of money, the band Metro Collins Street with some young Hall, North Fitzroy, where an obvious walked away after the ‘concert’ with a ladies from Santa Maria College to see vacancy existed for a side drummer. very tidy sum. In subsequent years, an Deborah Kerr in Tea and Sympathy, a The Drum Major, Seamus Daly, taught even larger group of the band built up a ¿OPZKLFKWRGD\ZRXOGSUREDEO\DWWUDFW Peter side drum and within weeks he St Patrick’s Day concert circuit through a rating of MA, which at the time we had received his beautiful new uniform. several inner city pubs including the GH¿QLWHO\ZHUHQRW The band performed for charities, in Champion, the Rob Roy and the Rising Typically the St Patrick’s Day con- parades, and at other swell affairs. Such Sun. However rough were the pubs, the cert opened with the INPB piping the events provided the welcome opportu- HYHQWVZHUHHQMR\DEOHDQGSUR¿WDEOH archbishop into the town hall and then nity to meet the girls of the Geraldine In the 1950s, as always, St Patrick’s performing a number of traditional Irish O’Shea Academy. Day was indeed a great day for the Irish. tunes. The concert featured Irish danc- Before the march started on a rather Patrick McNamara, with Michael ing, singers such as the tenor Gerald gloomy St Patrick’s Day in 1956, the Moore, Paul Power, Peter Roberts and Gaffney, and Irish music performed drummers were doing their best to Denis Stephenson Melbourne Irish Committee Presents The 2009 St Patrick’s Day – Family Day Sunday 15th March, 2009, starting midday, to 5pm Edinburgh Gardens, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy North Free Entry Festival activities include a full program of Irish performers and Dancers, as well as a children’s tent with activities www.stpatricksfestival.org.au Tinteán March 2009 29 Poetry Home From the Harbour Two herons, drawn from their haunts of stalking poise To Schull Harbour by the catchy smells of a trawler; They hop and hover, gaunt, gawky and ungainly over winches, gunwales and hauled in nets. Voyager -XO\¶V¿UVWHYHQLQJVWLOOEULJKWRYHU&DSH&OHDU In the distance dusk setting into night over Sherkin, I do not know the date. In our back clouds drop blackness into Bantry Bay, Hours go into days While at home, in Dromore, it might well be raining. go into weeks. Each morning the same. And, yes, on my way back there in waning light, We wake to blackness, &URVVLQJWKHORQHVRPHKLOOVMXVWHDVWRI%DUQDJHHKD the only light the rugged road’s still steaming in the shower’s wake - the glow of Matron’s lantern. Shy tufts of haze rising from sun-softened tarmac. %XWRXUQRVWULOV¿OO Then all along frogs hop off my path, oak tar mixed with sweat, Slingshot shanks plop plump bodies damp wool, the tang Into dewy ditches where they’re safe of vegetables on the turn, From crushing wheels and hungry herons. sometimes a hint of rum, always animal dung. Lothar Luken, who moved from Germany to Bantry in 1980, $QGWKHUHDUHDKXQGUHGVRXQGV was editor of Earthwatch (Irish environmental magazine). He creaking wood, has been an actor, a sketch writer and performance poet. WKHPXIÀHGWKXPSRIZDWHU the hoarse shouts of crewmen; the groans and sighs of 200 girls dreaming of home. Some dream of the place we are going to, and wake up screaming, telling of tigers and elephants and burning trees and savages with red bloody eyes. ,GUHDPRIZDWHU green swamps I wade through, fronds cloak my skin, huge foamy waves lifting me high up. I’m never afraid. ,¿QGP\IHHWVWULGHRQ always wake before I reach the end of water. Nessa O’Mahony, Dublin born, tells of Irish women migrants in her verse novel, In Sight of Home. ‘Voyager’ is in the voice of an Irish lass bound for Australia in the 1850s by assisted emigration. 30 Tinteán March 2009 To Memory Remember father in your long dead suit That hurley you gave me, its grainy twist, Stored 20 years, hoping, not thinking you’d marry,.... I’m sorry its timber slept so brittle, $QGP\¿UVWWLPHSXOOLQJZDVZLOGDQGIUHH Against the cockleshell pillar of the old house $QGWKHOLWWOHUHGJDWH,¶GMXPS $IWHUHLJKWRUPRUHODXJKLQJÀRXU\SRWDWRHV Should have told you it looked so bad to me, Should have told you it looked grey-beany brown, $QFLHQWWRP\\RXQJH\HVEXW,ZDVMXVWDNLG ,MXVWGLGQRWORYHLWDV,VKRXOG¶YH It did not have that fresh shine of hurleys At matches you took me to, like the great Glen Rovers playing our Lee Valley team Ger Brinn Dies In Australia 2I0XVNHUU\EHDWLQWKHLUEORRGVSRWWHGIURVWZKLWHMHUVH\V Like Real Madrid re-enacting Guernica, The news was as sudden as your heart On rainy afternoons in teak-meat days Stopping on a street in Melbourne. Of the early 1960s,when the game’s line Strangely alive again like the school-pal For savagery widened to anger’s howl We haven’t seen for years. As though And intention. And I still remember It were yesterday’s summer when you found How whistle-man in-the-middle The short cut home from the fourth boreen, 0LJKWWXUQDZD\OLNHDSULHVWRQ¿UH A pioneer of new gaps in the ditch, Not wishing or willing to blame the gods. An inkling of what was to come *URZLQJDZD\LQWR¿UVWORYH And so I was careless with your hurley, %HVLGHWKHGD]]OLQJZDWHUVRI&RUEDOO\ %HFDXVHLWZDVQ¶W&KULVW\5LQJ¶VKXUOH\ The shame of not making a living Far too late but I’d not be careless now In the shell-shocked Limerick of the 70's. With it, because it turned cleanly in your hands And you wished me, as you were once a warrior, ,WFDQQRWKDYHEHHQ0LWFKHOO VMRXUQDO To touch a true relic Or letters home to Dromoland from Smith O' Brien RIWKDWVSLULWZKLFKIDQQHG\RXU¿UH 7KDWVHW\RXÀ\LQJWRDEHWWHUOLIHDPRQJ The ghosts of United Irishmen and women. Unlike them you were free to roam Patrick Walsh, born in Cork, worked many years in feedmill- And try your hand at carpentry. LQJ$¿QDOLVWLQWKH5DGLR(LUHDQQ3RHWU\&RPSHWLWLRQLQWKH What monuments to your family's trade 1980s, he has been published in Aught. Antipatico, the Ugly Stand today in the suburbs and living rooms, 7UHH&RIIHH+RXVH0DJD]LQH and other journals. 7KHVKRSVDQGRI¿FHVRIWKHVWUHHW :KHUH\RXSHUKDSVIRUDÀHHWLQJPRPHQW Imagined family and boyhood friends Gathered on Doolin pier for a last farewell, The scattered ashes struggling to return. John Liddy commemorates a friend from Limerick, who died in 0HOERXUQH7KLV3RHPLVLQFOXGHGLQKLVSXEOLFDWLRQ7KH:HOO New and Selected Poems. Tinteán March 2009 31 An inspiring era of Catholic university intellectualism Golden Years, Grounds for Hope: Father UHQHZDO±LQWRWKH&DWKROLF&KXUFK7KLV EHJLQQLQJ D SURFHVV RI DQDO\VLV RI VFL- Golden and the Newman Society 1950- OLYLQJKLVWRU\RIWKUHHSDULVKHVLVDVWRU\ HQFHSDUWLFXODUO\RISK\VLFVE\ZKLFKKH 1966 RIWKHKRSHDQGSDLQLQWKDWUHQHZDO¶,Q LVVWLOOH[FLWHG Val Noone with Terry Blake, Mary FORVLQJKHREVHUYHG 5RVHPDU\&URZOH\ QpH:LOOLV KRLVWV Doyle and Helen Praetz (Editors) $W 9DWLFDQ ,, WKH 'XWFK KHUVDLOWRWKHPDVWRIVRFLDOMXVWLFHDQG Melbourne, Golden Project, 2008 ELVKRSV«JDYHDQLQVXUJHQW EHWWHUPHQW IRU WKH FRPPXQLW\ 3HRSOH YRLFHDJDLQVWWKH5RPDQ&XULD¶V KXQJHU IRU PRUH LQ WKH UHDOP RI VSLULW 7KLVLVDFKDOOHQJLQJDQGVLJQL¿FDQWERRN YLVLRQ RI WKH WULXPSKDOLVW YDOXHDQGYLVLRQ±FHUWDLQO\DUHDVRIUHOH- ,WVDLPLVWKHVWXG\DQGFULWLFDODQDO\VLV &KXUFK :H DUH WKH SHRSOH RI YDQFHWRDQ\UHOLJLRQ%XWWKHVHREMHFWLYHV RI WKH LQÀXHQFH RI )U -HUU\ *ROGHQ 6- *RG WKH\ GHFODUHG 3RZHU DUHPRUHOLNHO\WREHDFKLHYHGE\SHRSOH DQG7KH1HZPDQ6RFLHW\LQ VKRXOGJRZLWKWKHDXWKRULW\WKH ZLWKDFRPPLWPHQWWRVRFLDOMXVWLFH7KH 9LFWRULD ± LQEXLOGLQJDVHQVH SHRSOHRI*RGJLYHVLWVELVKRSV LGHDOV DQG YDOXHV UHFHLYHG IURP IDPLO\ RI FRPPXQLW\ DQG LQWHOOHFWXDO HQTXLU\ DWWKHOHYHOVZKHUHWKHIDLWKIXO FKXUFKVFKRROXQLYHUVLW\DQGZRUNKDYH ZKLFKFRPELQHG&DWKROLFIDLWKDQGWUDGL- OLYHRXWWKHDPELJXLWLHVRIWKHLU VWD\HGZLWKKHU6KHUHJDUGVµWKHFKDULW\ WLRQ ZLWK PRGHUQ FULWLFDO DQG VFLHQWL¿F EHOLHIV WRWKLQN¶DVRQHRIWKHJUHDWHVWJLIWVWKDW WKLQNLQJ DPRQJ VWXGHQWV DWWHQGLQJ WKH 6RRQHFDQVHHWKHGHVLJQRIWKHNHHO VKHKDVEHHQJLYHQ 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 0HOERXUQH $OWKRXJK 'HQLQJODLGGRZQDQGSDVVHGWRKLVVXF- 8QGHUWKHEHQLJQaegisRI)U*ROGHQ 0HOERXUQHFHQWUHG ERWK E\ GH¿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umanae VitaeSUR- UHPHPEHU)U*ROGHQWKLVSXEOLFDWLRQZDV VHHQODWHULQWKLVUHYLHZ QRXQFHPHQWDVEL]DUUH7KHSDVW\HDUV PRRWHG,WVUHDOLVDWLRQZDVHQVXUHGZKHQ 1RRQH RXWOLQHV WKH HQYLURQPHQW DQG KDYH VHHQ WKH LQVWLWXWLRQDO FKXUFK FRQ- *UHJ'HQLQJDJUHHGWRHGLWWKHYROXPH WKH WHQVLRQV H[SHULHQFHG E\ WKDW JHQ- ¿UPHGLQLWVGHVLUHWREHFRPHH[FOXVLYH 7KH JHQHVLV RI WKH ERRN WKHUHIRUH HUDWLRQ WKH\ KDG OHDGHUV ZKR H[SUHVVHG UDWKHUWKDQ&DWKROLF)RU)XQGHUDVHQVH LV GHHS LQGHHG 'HQLQJ WKHQ (PHULWXV DSRFDO\SWLF IHDUV RI &RPPXQLVP DQG RIZRQGHUFRPHVUHSHDWHGO\IURPWKHZD\ 3URIHVVRURI+LVWRU\DWWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI ZKR VWDJHG PDVV UDOOLHV IRU WKH YLVLWLQJ VFLHQFHSURYLGHVLQVLJKWVLQWRKRZOLYLQJ 0HOERXUQHKDGEHHQD-HVXLWSULHVWKLV- VWDWXH RI 2XU /DG\ RI )DWLPD 3LXV ;,, WKLQJVZRUN+H¿QGVLWKDUGWRDFFHSWWKH WRULDQDQWKURSRORJLVWDQGSUROL¿FDXWKRU ZDV WKH 3RSH DQG 'DQLHO 0DQQL[ WKH FRPELQDWLRQRILJQRUDQFHDQGDUURJDQFH +LVODVWZRUNHQWLWOHGChurch Alive! 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GLIIHUHQW ZD\ EXW VWHPPLQJ IURP KLV SHUVRQDO IDLWK ,WLVDZDWHUVKHGLQWKHLQHYLWDEOHFKDQJH %HFDXVHRXUWKLQNLQJRXUIHHOLQJDQGRXU DQGIDLWKLQWKHSRZHURILQGLYLGXDOVWR LQ WKH OLIH RI WKH &DWKROLF &KXUFK LQ ZRUNFRQQHFWXVWRRQHDQRWKHULWPDNHV UHVSRQGKLVSUDFWLFHZDVLQGHHGUDGLFDO $XVWUDOLD DQG GHPDQGV WKRXJKWIXO DQG VHQVHWRWDONDERXWVSLULWLQDFRPPXQDO FKDOOHQJLQJDQGULVN\ REMHFWLYH H[DPLQDWLRQ 1RRQH DQG KLV ZD\ 3RXVVDUG¶V ¿UP LGHD ZDV WKDW KHU ,QUHVWRULQJWZRGHJUDGHGSDGGRFNVRQ IHOORZ HGLWRUV DUH WR EH KLJKO\ FRP ZRUNSODFH ZRXOG EH WKH ZRUOG DQG WKDW KLVVPDOOSLHFHRIUXUDOODQG&KULV:DW PHQGHG IRU WKHLU HQHUJ\ GHGLFDWLRQ WKHWKLUGZRUOGZDVZKHUHWKHPDLQDFWLRQ VRQVHHVKLPVHOIDVUHGHHPLQJWKHQDWXUDO GLOLJHQFHDQGSURIHVVLRQDOLVP ZDV IRXQG 3HRSOH FRXOG ZRUN WRJHWKHU ZRUOGGLVFXVVHGLQKLV1HZPDQ6RFLHW\ Peter Kiernan with Patrick McNamara Tinteán March 2009 33 An opportunity missed? Grand Opportunity: The Gaelic Revival is not a book about ‘The Celtic Twilight’ ‘Irish Ireland’, few were so inclined. and Irish Society 1893-1910 or ‘The Irish Literary Revival.’ Although A number of Anglo-Irish, among them Timothy G McMahon, Douglas Hyde, a co-founder of the VRPHSURPLQHQWSXEOLF¿JXUHVGLGGRVR Syracuse Univ. Press, New York, 2008 League, was able to interest some of the to some degree even if many dropped out Anglo-Irish literary luminaries such as in the politically charged years of World Many have said that the origins of the WB Yeats, Lady Gregory, Edward Mar- War I and the lead-up to 1916. Irish struggle for independence are to tyn and TW Rolleston in League affairs, 7KH/HDJXH¶VUDQNDQG¿OHPHPEHU- be found in the Gaelic League, Conradh they are peripheral characters. In 19th ship attending weekly Irish classes in na Gaeilge. But in its early years the century Ireland the resurgence of inter- towns and villages soon numbered in League strove to be all-encompassing, est in stories from Gaelic Mythology their thousands. McMahon’s statistical eschewing all ideologies other than and the more esoteric interest in their analysis of the make up of that member- cultural nationalism. It is now exactly ship is interesting. The League had a ninety years since the heady weeks when small number of inadequately resourced newly elected Sinn Féin MPs convened “Many Gaeltacht timirí / paid organisers and múinteoirí Dáil Éireann in Dublin. One of the taistil / travelling teachers, and very 'iLO¶V¿UVWWDVNVZDVWRFKRRVH6HiQ8D families believed a choice often the commitment of members to the Ceallaigh [aka ‘Sceilg’] a Kerryman, League was extremely high, but the Irish who was also President of the Gaelic between the ‘old’ and the people took what they wanted from the League, to head a Ministry for the Irish new movement, whether as a social outlet Language. In theory at least, the new ‘modern’ was being forced or a personal power base. A full commit- Ministry took on the major responsibil- ment to the restoration of the language, ity for the future of the language and for upon them” the primary aim of the League was never arresting its alarming decline in Irish- made. Rather than a dichotomy between speaking districts. To that end, £1,000 the two theoretical extremes there was a was to be given as incentives to families long neglected sources, were all lumped continuum. This supports McMahon’s who could show their adherence to the together in the public’s imagination, contention that The Gaelic League both language in everyday life. No dissenting with early antiquarian efforts to preserve failed and succeeded simultaneously. It voices were raised at the setting aside of ‘the old language’ itself. This is still IDLOHGWRHQWLFHDVXI¿FLHQWO\ODUJHSUR- what was a considerable sum of money, the case among some Irish people, but portion of the population of Ireland far all were aware of the necessity for some the Revival we are dealing with here is enough along this continuum towards positive gesture. concerned with the speaking and writing the ‘Irish Ireland’ ideal, therefore failing Grand Opportunity deals with an RIWKH*DHOLFODQJXDJHRI¿FLDOO\FDOOHG to restore the Irish language to pride of earlier era, a time well before the emer- Irish. Naturally enough, in a country as place it had once held in most ordinary gence of The Irish Free State and a bit- small as Ireland, in a city as small as peoples’ lives. Yet the League made ter civil war had drained away much of Dublin, there were inevitably overlaps people aware of a Gaelic Irish heritage the youthful idealism, the talent and the among the founders and the member- and turned the language into an issue drive of a whole generation. Founded in ships of all of these movements. that could never again be forgotten by 1893, the earliest years of The Gaelic The ‘Grand Opportunity’ referred to governments of any persuasion. It may League were marked by enthusiasm in the title of the book was, in McMa- also, I believe, have succeeded in turning and energy, in its leaders and in their hon’s view, the chance which Irish the unfortunate term ‘West Briton’ from nation-wide voluntary organisation that people were given by the Gaelic Revival one of abuse into one of mere mockery. set itself to restoring the Irish language WR UHGH¿QH WKHPVHOYHV $ SRSXODU By choosing to go for a mass mem- as the everyday language of the people. resurgence in Irish culture in general, bership base, the League had to water McMahon’s book gives us an insight often referred to as ‘Irish Ireland,’ was down its most basic aim of restoration into how the League operated and why spearheaded by the Gaelic League and of the language in the everyday life of it chose certain courses of action, as well included such organisations as the Gaelic the nation. For all its well-aimed pro- as portraying the people who made the Athletic Association. It struck a chord paganda, the heavy reliance on amateur League tick, from the Coiste Gnótha or in the minds of younger Irish people enthusiasts to keep its organisation run- Executive Committee to the craobhanna even as many were moving away both ning, and the lack of suitably trained áitiúla or local branches. physically and psychologically from the teachers, encouraged a concentration Some familiarity with the contempo- centuries old tenantry and ‘Big House’ of activity in urban areas rather than rary Irish scene is needed to grasp the life of their parents and grandparents. in the rural Irish-speaking districts. import of what the League set out to This was itself a major problem for the The lack of a strong connection with achieve, the political and social milieu in League in practical terms, as the book the latter was one of the problems which it began operations and the extent shows. Many old distinctions between never satisfactorily addressed by the to which it succeeded or failed, but this ‘Ascendancy’ and ‘natives,’ were fad- League as Donncha Ó Súilleabháin, a LVXQOLNHO\WREHDGLI¿FXOW\IRUWKRVHDW ing and while the opportunity was there League stalwart of more recent times, whom the book is primarily aimed. This for any (Anglo) Irish person to embrace said in his book ATHBHEOCHAIN NA 34 Tinteán March 2009 QUINN CIVIL Specialists in water and sewer infrastructure Rehabilitation of existing pipes (water, sewer & drainage) Both hydraulic and pneumatic bursting GAEILGE: Cnuasach Aistí (‘Leathan- choice between the ‘old’ and the ‘mod- methods available radharc ar Chonradh na Gaeilge sna ern’ was being forced upon them. What- Construction of pump Laethanta Tosaigh’. p. 32) published ever its reasons, by ‘propagandising’ stations and detention by The Gaelic League itself in 1998 its message for a marginally interested – ‘Ní raibh An Conradh riamh in ann wider public the League made support tanks freastal ar an nGaeltacht faoi mar ba for the language a goal in itself and Construction of new mhian leis. Níor leor an méid a dhein blurred the distinction between ‘support’ siad ar an mbeagán airgid a bhí acu and an actual commitment to learning pipes chun a áiteamh ar na daoine a raibh it! One obvious result is the continued an teanga ó dhuchas acu, í a labhairt currency, among some politicians, of the Quality lena gclann.’ [They (the League) were ‘cúpla focal’ – the few words of Irish, never able to attend to the Gaeltacht as brought out for addressing public gather- emergency they would have wanted to. What they ings and ceremonial occasions. did do on the little money they had was McMahon’s explanation for the not enough to persuade those who had League’s successes and failures is service the language from birth to speak it to presented with copious footnotes and their children.] an extensive bibliography in both Irish Finances were a major problem for and English for those wishing to delve the League in the early years. Perhaps deeper into his sources. He goes beyond ¿QDQFLDOO\VXSSRUWLQJLWZDVWRRGDXQW ‘the usual suspects’ in seeking for Phone: 03 5940 2955 ing a task for ‘the black-coated workers,’ insights on the workings of the League Mobile: 0418 353 140 the majority of members at branch level at the local level, as is clear from his Fax: 03 5940 2956 who were, ‘aspiring’ and ‘lower middle acknowledgements. class.’ Given what passed for normal In his conclusion McMahon also [email protected] in so much of the Gaeltacht then, it is credits the League with standing its not remarkable that a certain mutual ground in the face of the bullying tac- suspicion often existed between rural tics of some members of the Catholic O’BOYLES Irish-speakers and their more urbanised hierarchy in those early years, and the compatriots. McMahon rightly criticises attempts of political ‘heavies’ of the day the League for this, its greatest failure: to bend the League to their own ends. He ROOF PLUMBING its ineffectiveness in halting the language YHU\EULHÀ\DOOXGHVWRWKHVXFFHVVRIWKH decline in those already fragmented TXDVLVHFUHWVRFLHW\WKH,5%LQLQ¿OWUDW Free quotes native-speaking communities along the LQJ DQG ¿QDOO\ UHGLUHFWLQJ WKH /HDJXH coastlines of the northwest, west and along overtly political lines in the years t"MMNFUBMSPPGTt#PYHVUUFST south. He does, however, accept that immediately leading up to the Easter t4QPVUJOHt%PXOQJQFT this was intertwined with economic and Rising of 1916, but that period is outside socio-cultural problems such as popula- the scope of his present work. It should, .BSL0#PZMF tion loss through emigration. There was hopefully, bring a sequel. QINPC in addition, the practical consideration Chris Mooney )JDLPSZ%PXOT1MBDF %JBNPOE$SFFL that many Gaeltacht families believed a Chris Mooney is a Melbourne writer Tinteán March 2009 35 A perfect addition to your bedside table The Annals of Dublin E E O’Donnell SJ Currach Press, Dublin 2008 Father O’Donnell is getting to know the photographic oeuvre of Fr. Frank Browne S.J.(1880-1960). He has edited and pro- duced some twenty volumes on his work. 7KLV¿QHKDUGEDFNZDV¿UVWSXEOLVKHGLQ DQGLVDUHYLVHGHGLWLRQE\&XUUDFK Press. It is a gem. 7KH WLWOH RI WKH ERRN LV FRPSOHWHO\ accurate as it is a record of the history RI 'XEOLQ \HDU E\ \HDU VWDUWLQJ LQ %& WKH IRUPDWLRQ RI WKH Travelling people HDUWK¶V FUXVW EXW ZKHQ ,UHODQG ZDV DOO sea) and even predicting some events up to AD 2010. It is such a neat and logi- WLPHVEHIRUHWKLV FDODUUDQJHPHQWWKDWWKHJHQHURXVLQGH[ 500 BC ZKLFK GRHV QRW JLYH SDJH QXPEHUV IRU 7KH,ULVKQDPHIRU7DOODJKW&R'XE HDFKLWHPEXWWKHUHOHYDQW\HDU,IRXQG OLQLV7DPEOHDFKW0XLQWLU3DUWKDORQLH particularly convenient. The author the plague-monument of the Parthalo- GHVFULEHV KLV ZRUN DV PRUH DQ H[HUFLVH QLDQV SUH&HOWLF SHRSOH ZKR LQKDELWHG in communication than an academic his- &R 'XEOLQ 7KH SUHVHQWGD\ µWUDYHOOLQJ WRU\DQGIRUXVHDVDJXLGHµZKHWKHU\RX SHRSOH¶ RI ,UHODQG DUH VDLG WR EH WKH FRPHIURP.HQWXFN\RU.HQPDUH&DP descendants of these ancient invaders. GHQWRZQRU&DPGHQVWUHHW¶2¶'RQQHOO 300 BC DFNQRZOHGJHV WKH KHOS IURP 'XEOLQ 7KH&HOWVDUULYHLQ,UHODQGDERXWWKLV OLEUDULHVLQKLVPDQ\\HDUVRIUHDGLQJDQG WLPHRUSRVVLEO\DOLWWOHODWHU7KH\KDYH research – which is prodigious – and he weapons of iron so they have little dif- also thanks his Jesuit Order for the use ¿FXOW\LQFRQTXHULQJWKHFRXQWU\ of Browne’s photographs in its archives. And later : 6L[W\VL[RIWKHPDUHVKRZQLQWKLVERRN 1592 AD PRVWO\IRUWKH¿UVWWLPH 7ULQLW\&ROOHJHLVIRXQGHGE\4XHHQ Self portrait of the photographer, There are twenty-nine chapters in (OL]DEHWKIRUWKHµHGXFDWLRQWUDLQLQJDQG Francis Browne SJ, taken at Maison FKURQRORJLFDORUGHUWKH¿UVWµ*HRORJLFDO instruction of youths and students in the Prost, St. Stephens’s green, Dublin 3UHDPEOH¶DQGWKHODVWµ0RGHUQ'XEOLQ¶ $UWVDQG)DFXOWLHVVRWKDWWKH\PLJKWEH 7KHUH DUH WKLUWHHQ DSSHQGLFHV PDQ\ RQ EHWWHUDVVLVWHGLQWKHVWXG\RIWKHOLEHUDO novel and provocative topics of which arts and in the cultivation of virtue and &DSWDLQ :LOOLDP %OLJK RI 0XWLQ\ RI 1R LV µ-R\FH¶V QDPHV IRU 'XEOLQ religion and to counteract the new prac- the Bounty fame draws an important map in Finnegan’s Wake’. Of Joyce’s 192 WLFH RI &DWKROLFV ZKR DUH VHQGLQJ WKHLU RI'XEOLQKDUERXU LWZLOOEHSXEOLVKHGLQ QDPHVP\IDYRXULWHLVPD\EH'¶2EORQJ VRQVLQWR)UDQFH,WDO\DQG6SDLQWRJHW London in 1803. EXW , FDQ¶W H[SODLQ ZK\ 7KHUH DUH OHDUQLQJ LQ VXFK IRUHLJQ XQLYHUVLWLHV 1804 AD PDSV DQG FKDUWV YHU\ ZHOO GHVLJQHG ZKHUHE\ WKH\ KDYH EHHQ LQIHFWHG ZLWK %HWZHHQWKLV\HDUDQGWZHQW\ )LQDOO\WKHDXWKRULQFOXGHVDIHDWXUHKH 3RSHU\ DQG RWKHU LOO TXDOLWLHV DQG VR RQH 0DUWHOOR 7RZHUV DUH FRQVWUXFWHG WR FDOOV µ(OVHZKHUH¶ FRPSULVLQJ VKDGHG EHFRPHHYLOVXEMHFWV¶ SURWHFW'XEOLQIURPD1DSROHRQLFLQYD ER[ KDOISDJHV LQ HYHU\ FKDSWHU 7KH\ Hugh O’Neill and Red Hugh sion. set out contemporary events which have O’Donnell hold the north of Ireland And so this encyclopaedic Annals occurred outside Ireland during the UHFHLYHQRVXSSRUWIURP'XEOLQ$VWKH SURFHHGV\HDULQ\HDURXWDQGLWPDNHV period of that chapter and are most illu- KLVWRULDQ 0HHKDQ SXW LW µ7KH &DWKROLF fascinating reading. Its material is acces- minating in assessing the history and the QRELOLW\RIWKH3DOHZHUHHYHUIRUHPRVW VLEOH DQG VXFFLQFW ,W LV LGHDO IRU \RXQJ nature of the times relevant to that same LQ PDLQWDLQLQJ (QJOLVK RSSUHVVLRQ VR DQG ROG DQG FRXOG QRW KDYH EHHQ PRUH period in Ireland. long as it did not interfere with their KDQGVRPHO\ SXEOLVKHG 7KH EODFN DQG Let me give some illustrations of the temporal possessions’. ZKLWHSKRWRJUDSK\RI%URZQHLVDPDMRU LQIRUPDWLRQWKHVH$QQDOVSURYLGHWDNHQ 1800 AD IHDWXUH VR EHDXWLIXOO\ FRPSRVHG DQG at random: $FW RI 8QLRQ ± ,ULVK 3DUOLDPHQW reproduced. Fr. O’Donnell has succeeded 70,000,000 BC WKURXJK WKH EULEHU\ DQG FRUUXSWLRQ RI DGPLUDEO\ DQG KDV JLYHQ XV D SHUIHFW Ireland emerges permanently from the &DVWOHUHDJK DQG )LW]*LEERQ DEROLVKHG DGGLWLRQWRRXUEHGVLGHWDEOHV VHD,WKDGLWVKHDGDERYHWKHZDWHUPDQ\ as of 1 January. Peter Kiernan 36 Tinteán March 2009 The disappearance of Cork Docklands The Last Days of the Cork Docklands DQG DUWLVWU\ RI &XPPLQV¶ SKRWRJUDSKV , Patrick Cummins ZDVGUDZQWRWKHSKUDVH‘DSLFWXUHLVZRUWK Atrium D WKRXVDQG ZRUGV’ , KDYH YLVLWHG &RUN SRLJQDQWIRUDOOWKDW RQO\RQFHEXW,UHFDOOEHLQJVWUXFNQRWVR ,QGLYLGXDOO\ WKH SKRWRJUDSKV ERWK $W ¿UVW VLJKW RQH FRXOG EH IRUJLYHQ IRU PXFKE\WKHEHDXW\RIWKHSODFHEXWE\WKH EODFNDQGZKLWHDQGFRORXUDUHVXSHUEDQG WKLQNLQJ WKDW WKLV ERRN PLJKW EH RI WKH FKDUDFWHURIWKHFLW\DQGLWVSHRSOH7RPH ZKHQWDNHQWRJHWKHUDVDOLYLQJKLVWRU\RI FRPPRQRUJDUGHQµFRIIHHWDEOH¶YDULHW\ LWVHHPHGWREHDURXJKDQGUHDG\ DQGQR DFRPPXQLW\WKH\DUHPXFKPRUHWKDQWKH WKLVZRXOGEHDJUDYHPLVWDNH)RUZKLOVW ZRUVHIRUWKDW YLEUDQWVRUWRISODFHDQG, VXPRIWKHLUSDUWV WKH ERRN LV FHUWDLQO\ D WUHDW WR ORRN DW UHFDOOZLVKLQJWKDW,KDGPRUHWLPHWRJHW 2WKHUWKDQQRWLQJWKDWVRPHRIWKHEODFN EHLQJ EHDXWLIXOO\ SURGXFHG DQG UHSOHWH WRNQRZLW&XPPLQV¶ERRNEULQJVRXWWKH DQGZKLWHSLFWXUHVKDYHEHHQWDNHQXVLQJ ZLWK IDVFLQDWLQJ ± DQG RIWHQ VWXQQLQJO\ FKDUDFWHURIWKHSODFHLQVSDGHV±DQG\HV DµSLQKROHFDPHUD¶&XPPLQVGRHVQ¶WJLYH EHDXWLIXO ± SKRWRJUDSKV LW LV YHU\ PXFK WKHUHDUHSLFWXUHVRIVSDGHV WHFKQLFDOGHWDLOV±VKXWWHUVSHHGVHWF±DQG PRUHWKDQWKLV&XPPLQVKLPVHOID&RUN &XPPLQV¶ERRNLVDKRPDJHWRWKHFLW\ WKLVPLJKWEHFRQVLGHUHGDIDLOLQJE\VRPH PDQDQGDQDZDUGZLQQLQJSKRWRJUDSKHU RIKLVELUWKDFLW\KHORYHVDQGFDUHVDERXW UHDGHUV 2Q WKH RWKHU KDQG LI VRPHRQH KDVSURGXFHGDSRZHUIXOUHFRUGRIDFRP SDVVLRQDWHO\$VDQDUWLVWKHKDVWKHVNLOOV GHYRWHVWKHLUDGXOWOLIHWRPDVWHULQJDGLI PXQLW\ LQ WUDQVLWLRQ &XPPLQV GHVFULEHV DQGWDOHQWWREULQJWKHFLW\WROLIH±WRVKDUH ¿FXOWDUWVKRXOGWKH\EHH[SHFWHGWRµJLYH KLV ERRN DV EHLQJ D µFRQWHPSRUDU\ SKR KLVSDVVLRQZLWKKLVUHDGHUV3HUKDSVKLV DZD\¶WKHLUKDUGZRQVHFUHWV" WRJUDSKLFHVVD\RI&RUN¶DQGQRWHVLQKLV GHFDGHVIDUIURP&RUNLQWKH,ULVKGLDV ,DPJUHDWO\WDNHQZLWKWKLVERRNDQG LQWURGXFWLRQ WKDW µ2QO\ D KLVWRULDQ FRXOG SRUDLQ6\GQH\JDYHKLPIUHVKH\HVLQKLV ZKHQ , QH[W YLVLW ,UHODQG , KDYH ÀDJJHG WHOOWKHIXOOVWRU\RIWKHGRFNVLQDFKURQR HIIRUWWRUHFRUGDSDUWRIWKHFLW\XQGHUJR DQRWKHUYLVLWWR&RUNDVDµPXVWGR¶&XP ORJLFDO PDQQHU EXW DV D SKRWRJUDSKHU , LQJ D GUDPDWLF UDGLFDO UHGHYHORSPHQW PLQVKDVGRQHKLVFLW\±DQGKLVUHDGHUV ZRXOGEHDEOHWRFRQYH\ZKDWZDVLQIURQW DQGDFRPPXQLW\XQGHUJRLQJDSURIRXQG ±SURXG7KLVLV H[FXVHWKHSXQ D&RUNHU RIP\FDPHUDDWWKHWLPH±WRWHOODOLYLQJ WUDQVLWLRQQRWRQO\WRWKHEXLOWODQGVFDSH RIDERRN KLVWRU\WKURXJKWKHOHQV¶ EXWWRDFXOWXUH±DZD\RIOLIH,WLVQRWDQ Bill Anderson +RZZHOOKHKDVVXFFHHGHGLQKLVWDVN XQXVXDO VWRU\ ± PDQ\ FRPPXQLWLHV KDYH Bill Anderson is Honorary Senior $OWKRXJK,DPQRWXVXDOO\HQDPRXUHGRI KDGWRFRSHZLWKWKHWUDXPDDQGGLVORFD Research Fellow, School of Historical WKH H[SUHVVLRQ ZKHQ , VDZ WKH VWUHQJWK WLRQV RI VXFK WUDQVLWLRQV EXW LW LV QR OHVV Studies, University of Melbourne. TUNNEY John Keating & HOULIHAN P/L & Assoc 191 Greville St, Prahran 3181 Commercial Lawyers 32%R[ )DLUÀHOG)D[ 6HDQ7XQQH\ Tel: 03 9510 6904 Fax: 03 9529 2270 'HQLV+RXOLKDQ [email protected] Tinteán March 2009 37 Tradition in a new key In Silent Moments in his life, and one that brings home the Thomas F Walsh central core of his belief; the importance Currach Press, Dublin. 2007 of living in the moment. He draws widely for inspiration; We have a tendency to think that ‘island Francis Thompson, Wordsworth, Shake- of saints and scholars’ referred to Ireland speare, Patrick Pearse, Thomas Gray, To me there is an Irishness about those in centuries immediately after the arrival Thomas Moore to name but a few. All lines. They are inspired by the ancient of St Patrick, and the great monastic chapters are peppered with apt literary pagan traditions that transcend all more movement that followed. This delightful references, mostly of a metaphysical recent credos. book by Thomas Walsh brings home to nature. The wisdom and simplicity with The path of his life that Walsh traces me that we are still building on the tradi- which he expresses his own voice call mirrors those of many of us of the same tion founded in the great monastic era, to mind Viktor Frankl in Man’s Search generation. It is a celebration of life but and have always proudly translated it, for Meaning, Thich Nhat Hanh,the great through it runs a sense of loss for all those and adapted it for contemporary settings. Vietnamese Buddhist monk, in Being things that are no more. The footsteps of The 100 plus pages of this volume is Peace, Paolo Coehlo, and a whole range children, the chaos of grandchildren, the the perfect companion for times of quiet of contemporary writers. forgotten treasures unearthed in the attic, UHÀHFWLRQ/LNHPRVW,ULVKZULWHUV:DOVK If you are house hunting, this advice and the memories they evoke. is undoubtedly well read and his love of may prove invaluable: This book is a voyage down memory literature has sustained him in times of when you go into a house lane with a master helmsman. Read it and crisis and throughout his life, the early that has sheltered life, go savour it. It is writers such as Walsh who seeds of this love instilled at the knees softly. When you go across the show how well we have nurtured our of parents and in the wonderful national threshold, pause, and sense the early traditions and enriched them over schools. household gods. Wait for them the centuries. There is a Zen quality to Walsh’s writ- to welcome you. If you are the Renée Huish ing. The death of his daughter Caroline at right person, they will know, Renée Huish is a Bloomsday supporter the age of sixteen was a stark milestone and so will you. and a former teacher. A memoir for family consumption only? Over My Shoulder, A Memoir write a bad book as it is to write a good childhood, sexual confusion, weakness for Norma MacMaster one and MacMaster’s memoir might be drink and drugs – we used to cry about. Columbia Press, 2008 a case in point. While it is clear she has It’s an odd business reading books and slaved over 160 pages loaded with detail, we frequently negotiate different kinds The author, Norma MacMaster, grew up there’s little to recommend it. The story is of reading as if it were the simplest thing in County Cavan in Ireland in the 1940s homely and engaging when she describes in the world. Just lately I found myself and 50s as a Presbyterian. It is a simple her childhood observations amongst a in awe of the melodious plainness of the charming story of those times and of the cast of quirky country folk and when prose of Doris Lessing’s new book Alfred experiences of a young girl growing up in she recounts her adult life. It’s a gentle and Family. She also writes about her a very close-knit family in clear harmony memoir of otherness permeated with parents using a form that seems to encom- with their neighbours and yet holding on unashamed nostalgia, familial love and a pass multi-layered memoir as literature. to their own distinctive culture and way of sense of neighbourly affection. Writing one’s life is a purging, a put- seeing things. But the book, which relies heavily on ting in place of memories and a piecing MacMaster tells of her experiences of clichés and laborious writing, is extremely together of meaning. For the reader the the Orange marches and dances around dull. It is so disappointing when she reverts text is, at its basest level, a very good the ‘Glorious Twelfth’ and of the com- to dry reproductions of what and when. yarn. At its best, it looks at the universal- plete lack of tension about this with her MacMaster comes across as an amiable ity of core experiences and it offers some neighbours. She also describes the clearly person and there are things to admire about life lessons to be taken away, given freely understood necessity for Protestant girls her memoir. Her recollections of parenting by the author. MacMaster for me missed to go to dances and socials which were are touching; she reveals a deep grief at the mark. Instead we watched every shake patronized by Protestant boys – the the loss of her father; and she recreates an and shimmy, we heard ad nauseam what consequences of the Catholic Ne Temere Ireland that is utterly changed forever. But a good person a neighbour was and how decree which were all too deeply felt. I wanted the memoir to spit and crackle, nice village life was. The problem was Norma MacMaster is now a priest of the restlessly beating out Norma’s life with there was nothing new in any of it. Best Church of Ireland and living in Skerries in ÀDULQJEUXWDOLWLHVDQGXQH[SHFWHGWHQGHU- kept as a private family recollection. County Dublin. nesses. I wanted to be torched by her life Deirdre Gillespie According to novelist and critic, in County Cavan. I wanted her to mine Deirdre Gillespie is President of the Irish Malcolm Cowley, it is just as hard to the sort of material – mad family, weird Language Association, Melbourne 38 Tinteán March 2009 Outlasting his opponents B.A. Santamaria: Running the Show: Selected Documents: 1939-1996 Edited by Patrick Morgan The Miegunyah Press in association with the State Library of Victoria, Melbourne 2007 %$6DQWDPDULDLVSUREDEO\WKHPRVWLQÀX HQWLDO SHUVRQ LQ $XVWUDOLDQ SROLWLFV ZKR QHYHUKHOGDQ\IRUPRISXEOLFRI¿FH%RE 6DQWDPDULDZDVHPSOR\HGDOOKLVZRUNLQJ OLIHLQRUJDQLVDWLRQVZKRVHFROOHFWLYHDLP Located within the ZDVWRSURPRWHDQGH[WHQG&DWKROLFVRFLDO WHDFKLQJV$VKHDGRIZKDWZDVYDULRXVO\ Celtic Club building FDOOHGµ7KH6KRZ¶DQGµ7KH0RYHPHQW¶ 6DQWDPDULD $W WLPHV QRQH RI WKH '/3 6DQWDPDULDGLGPRUHWKDQDQ\RWKHUVLQJOH VHQDWRUV ZHUH WDONLQJ WR 6DQWDPDULD SHUVRQWRGHIHDWFRPPXQLVPLQWKH$XV ,Q PDQ\ ZD\V WKH 1&& DQG WKH '/3 WUDOLDQXQLRQPRYHPHQWDQGLQ$XVWUDOLDQ ZHUHULYDORUJDQLVDWLRQVVHHNLQJVXSSRUW SROLWLFDOOLIHLQLWVZLGHUFRQWH[W7KHPDLQ IURP WKH VDPH VRFLDO DQG SROLWLFDO EDVH For the best deals RUJDQLVLQJ IRUFH RI 6DQWDPDULD¶V 0RYH )RU H[DPSOH WKH VROH UHSUHVHQWDWLYH RI and service when PHQWWKH1DWLRQDO&LYLF&RXQFLO 1&& WKH UHFRQVWLWXWHG '/3 LQ DQ\$XVWUDOLDQ LVVWLOOZLWKXVZKLOHLWVPDLQRSSRQHQW SDUOLDPHQW3HWHU.DYDQDKDPHPEHURI travelling to Ireland WKH &RPPXQLVW 3DUW\ RI $XVWUDOLD GLV 9LFWRULD¶V /HJLVODWLYH &RXQFLO LV QRW D and beyond VROYHG LWVHOI DQG ZDV UHFRQVWLWXWHG DV D PHPEHURIWKH1&& EDUHO\ YLVLEOH 7URWVN\LWH HQWHUSULVH $V $SDUW IURP WKH '/3RYHU ZKLFK WKH 3URIHVVRU 3DWULFN 2¶%ULHQ RI WKH 8QL 1&& DQG 6DQWDPDULD KDG YDU\LQJ LQÀX YHUVLW\RI:HVWHUQ$XVWUDOLDFRPPHQWHG HQFH IURP WLPH WR WLPH WKH 1&& KDG D 6DQWDPDULDRXWODVWHGKLVRSSRQHQWVSROLWL ZLGH UDQJH RI DVVRFLDWHG RUJDQLVDWLRQV FDOO\PRUDOO\DQGSK\VLFDOO\ ,WZRXOGEHGUDZLQJDUDWKHUORQJERZWR 7KH 0RYHPHQW ZDV D /HQLQLVW GHVFULEH WKHP DOO DV IURQW RUJDQLVDWLRQV HQWHUSULVH WR WKH SRLQW ZKHUH LW GLG LQD/HQLQLVWVHQVH0DQ\KDYHWDNHQRQ QRW DFNQRZOHGJH IRUPDOO\ SXEOLFO\ RU DOLIHRIWKHLURZQDZD\IURPWKH1&& SULYDWHO\ LWV RZQ H[LVWHQFH$V D VHFUHW VXFKDVWKH$XVWUDOLDQ'HIHQFH$VVRFLD IRUFHLQ$XVWUDOLDQSROLWLFVLWGHYHORSHG WLRQZKLFKFRQWLQXHVWRKDYHDSURPLQHQW DP\WKRORJ\DERXWWKHH[WHQWDQGSHUYD SXEOLFSUHVHQFHGHVSLWHWKHUHWLUHPHQWRI VLYHQHVVRILWVLQÀXHQFH LWV JXLGLQJ OLJKW 0LFKDHO 2¶&RQQRU DQ 7DNH IRU H[DPSOH WKH 'HPRFUDWLF HVWUDQJHG 1&& RI¿FH KROGHU /LNH DQ\ /DERU 3DUW\ '/3 7KH '/3 ZDV DQ /HQLQLVWRUJDQLVDWLRQWKH1&&KDVIURP At Emerald Travel, Seamus LQÀXHQWLDO IRUFH LQ $XVWUDOLDQ SROLWLFV WLPHWRWLPHEHHQVSOLWDSDUWE\GRFWULQDO and Christina Moloughney KDYLQJDFUXFLDOUROHLQWKH6HQDWH,QWKH SHUVRQDODQGSROLWLFDOFRQÀLFWV +RXVHRI5HSUHVHQWDWLYHVLWLVJHQHUDOO\ 3DWULFN 0RUJDQ KDV GRQH $XVWUDOLDQ continue a family tradition DFNQRZOHGJHG WKDW LW VDYHG WKH /LEHUDO SROLWLFDO VFKRODUVKLS D JUHDW VHUYLFH E\ of professional travel service &RXQWU\3DUW\FRDOLWLRQJRYHUQPHQWIURP GLVWLOOLQJ WKH JUHDW PDVV RI 6DQWDPDULD¶V HOHFWRUDO GHIHDW E\ WKH$XVWUDOLDQ /DERU SULYDWHZRUNLQJGRFXPHQWVLQWRWKLVYRO Level 3, 316 Queen St, 3DUW\ $/3 DWOHDVWWZLFH7KH'/3GLG XPHZKLFKDWRYHUSDJHVUHSUHVHQWV Melbourne VIC 3000 WKLV E\ PDUVKDOOLQJ VRFLDOO\ FRQVHUYD RQO\DVPDOOIUDFWLRQRIWKHDUFKLYDOPDWH 03 9670 9696 0419 401 584 WLYH &DWKROLF YRWHUV ODUJHO\ $XVWUDOLDQV ULDO6FKRODUVZLOOEHEXV\IRUPDQ\\HDUV Fax: 03 9670 7007 RI ,ULVK RULJLQ LQWR D SROLWLFDO IRUFH ,W WRFRPHZRUNLQJRQWKLVYDVWFROOHFWLRQRI JDLQHGLWVHIIHFWLYHQHVVE\WKHGLVFLSOLQHG PDWHULDOIURP$XVWUDOLD¶VIRUHPRVW&DWKR [email protected] DOORFDWLRQ RI SUHIHUHQFHV LQ $XVWUDOLD¶V OLF SXEOLF LQWHOOHFWXDO :LOO Running the SUHIHUHQWLDO YRWLQJ HOHFWRUDO V\VWHP ShowDQVZHUDOOWKHTXHVWLRQVDERXW6DQW :KHQWKH'/3GLVVROYHGLWVHOIWKHSDUW\¶V DPDULDZKLFKKDYHVWLUUHGFRQWURYHUV\IRU YRWHVSOLWPRUHRUOHVVHYHQO\EHWZHHQWKH GHFDGHVVXFKDVWKHXOWLPDWHSXUSRVHDQG &RDOLWLRQ DQG WKH $/3 VKRZLQJ LW ZDV DLPRI7KH0RYHPHQW¶VLQYROYHPHQWZLWK FDSDEOHRIPDUVKDOOLQJDQGFKDQJLQJWKH WKH$/3"3UREDEO\QRW%XWWKLVUHPDLQV YRWLQJSDWWHUQVRILWVVXSSRUWHUV DQLPSRUWDQWVRXUFHGRFXPHQWIRU$XVWUD Tinteán March 2009 39 A diversity of fortunes The Merchant’s Women MerchantZDVWKH¿UVWRQHFKDUWHUHGE\ Elizabeth Rushen and Perry McIntyre the London Emigration Committee and Anchor Books Australia, 2008 the book traces the fortunes of the 220 women who sailed to Australia on her in Rushen and McIntyre describe the $SULO implementation of part of that tempting Great care was taken to safeguard the Victorian policy: rounding up layabout, women’s health on the four month voy- hopeless, unemployed paupers from age and the organisers were justly proud England where there was too much that all of the passengers survived it. Of labour and sending them off to Australia course, the very real possibility of a high where there was too little. The Victorian passenger death rate was the reason that version of a win/win situation: England the canny State government did not pay gains by getting rid of a bunch of yobs WKHLUǧXQWLOWKHZRPDQFRQFHUQHGKDG and Australia gains a – well a bunch of landed safely. Long voyages posed prob- yobs to be transformed by honest toil! lems of boredom as well as challenges There were two versions of this intrigu- to health and the Committee arranged for ing plan: the indiscriminant one which women to be supplied with cotton and would simply ‘shovel out paupers’ wool to make their own clothes on board versus planned emigration. Firmly in ship. While about half of the women colony accustomed to convict servants. the planned emigration camp, the Lon- were literate enough to sign the marriage Some of their employers needed time don Emigration Committee concerned register, no shipboard journals of this and acculturation to adjust to the idea themselves with relocating women to voyage have survived; though there were that they needed to be nice to the help if Australia in order to rebalance the sexes two letters of complaint! Hard to please they wanted to keep it. and provide desperately needed female those aspiring classes. The diversity of fortunes of the 220 labour (servants) and marriage partners. On arrival, the best accommodation voyagers is quite remarkable. Three Some idea of the women’s motivations that the New South Wales government saw the 20th century and so lived at least for embarking on a journey as weird and could provide was a disused timber yard. another 67 years after their arrival; 10 remote to them as going to Mars would This was chosen partly because it had a had died within a year of landing. Causes be to us comes from the close connec- wall to keep out the: of death are not usually known, but one tion of the Refuge for the Destitute to the ..assemblage of idle woman was stabbed by her husband. A emigration schemes. vagabonds, who have for some homicide death rate of 1 in 220 is very Decades ahead of Caroline Chisholm’s days surrounded the gate and high compared with the 20th century advocacy of providing ‘walking wombs’ subjected parties entering and $XVWUDOLDQ KRPLFLGH UDWH ZKLFK ÀXFWX for the new nation, there is a consider- returning from the Lumber- DWHG EHWZHHQ DQG SHU able appeal in the Committee’s broad- yard to the impudent stare and people. It would have been interesting sheet advertisements for: observations of the rabble. to know how typical this was. All but ‘Females of good character, S ¿YHDUULYDOVKDGMREVZLWKLQQLQHGD\VRI from 16 to 30, desirous of and partly because the government ODQGLQJHLWKHUDVVHUYDQWVDWǧ±ǧSHU bettering their condition by believed that all of these women had DQQXP RU DV JRYHUQHVVHV DW ǧ ± ǧ emigrating to Australia.’ come from poor circumstances and so per annum. Ultimately most did marry, (p.25). could be expected to put up with priva- about half married convicts, and some This is a book about the quietly tion when they arrived. Rushen and married several times. Most were hard rebellious; the women who were too McIntyre do a good job of setting the working and self supporting but there poor and uneducated to join political voyage of the Bussorah Merchant within were a few drunkards who turned up in parties or debate the rights of women, the context of the larger changes in the the court records. One woman became but who wanted to take charge of their status of women in the early 19th century. *HHORQJ¶V ¿UVW IHPDOH OLFHQVHH LQ WKH RZQOLYHVMXVWWKHVDPH,WFRVWǧIRU %\ WKH WLGH KDG WXUQHG DJDLQVW Thistle Inn. D RQH ZD\ WLFNHW WR$XVWUDOLD LQ independent female business women and Most of the book is taken up with the London Emigration Committee paid capitalists of the Sarah Sands ilk. More all that is known about each passenger, ǧ HDFK ZRPDQ SDLG ǧ DQG WKH 6WDWH and more it was accepted that decent organised alphabetically. This feature JRYHUQPHQW SDLG ǧ IRU HDFK ZRPDQ women were protected by male relatives would make it a very useful reference for who landed. The requirement for each and did not need to support themselves genealogists. A sad feature of the book is ZRPDQ WR FRPH XS ZLWK ǧ HIIHFWLYHO\ and that therefore ‘unprotected’ women that the hard work and devotion of the barred the scheme to the very poor but who did need to support themselves authors has been badly let down by the supplied the new colony with members could be blamed for it and subjected to printer and the publisher. The pages are of the ‘aspiring classes’. Under this the ‘..impudent stare..’. Subsequently, in a wildly jumbled order, going from p. scheme about 2,700 women emigrated these women encountered another ten- 4 to p.13 and then p.60 to p.47. to Australia on 14 ships. The Bussorah sion in that they were free servants in a Felicity Allen 40 Tinteán March 2009 Reinvigorating old ideas Who Owns the World ¿UVW H[SHULHQFH RI WKLV ODQG VSHFXODWLRQ GULYHQ UHFHVVLRQ7D[ Kevin Cahill UHYHQXHVWKHUHKDYHIDOOHQWROHYHOVDQGXQHPSOR\PHQW Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, Scotland KDVKLWDQDOO±WLPHKLJK$VZHDUHEHJLQQLQJWRVHH$XVWUDOLD LVQRWLPPXQH Who Owns the WorldE\.HYLQ&DKLOOLVWKH¿UVWVXUYH\RIODQG- 1HR&ODVVLFDO (FRQRPLVWV RU HFRQRPLF UDWLRQDOLVWV WUHDW RZQHUVKLSLQHDFKRIWKHZRUOG¶V VWDWHVRUFRXQWULHVDQG ODQGDVFDSLWDO%XWODQGGRHVQRWµWXUQRYHU¶7KHZRUGµODQG¶ PDMRUWHUULWRULHV.HYLQ&DKLOOH[SODLQV LVSXWLQTXRWHVLQHFRQRPLFVWH[WERRNVµODQG¶±HYHQWKRXJKLW 7KH&URZQLVWKHRQO\µDEVROXWH¶RZQHURIODQGLQWKH ZDVFHQWUDOWR&ODVVLFDO(FRQRPLFWKRXJKWIURP$GDP6PLWK 8.DQGDOO&RPPRQZHDOWKFRXQWULHV DOORWKHUSURSHUW\ WKURXJK-RKQ6WXDUW0LOODQGWKH)UHQFK3K\VLRFUDWV¶DWWHPSWWR RZQHUVKROGDQµLQWHUHVWLQDQHVWDWHLQODQG¶±H[FHSWLQ SUHYHQWWKH)UHQFK5HYROXWLRQ $XVWUDOLDZKHUHWKH0DER$FWRI JDYH$ERULJLQDO 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HQRUPRXV EHQH¿WV ,W ZRXOG IXQG LQIUDVWUXFWXUH Tinteán March 2009 41 Shamrock celebrated in Australia Echoes of Irish Australia: Rebellion to dinner, a tour of the grounds, including and Mother Ireland in the Verses of ‘John Republic the walk to the heritage-listed cemetery of O’Brien’ and Other Poetical Priests’ and Jeff Brownrigg, Cheryl Mongan, Rich- pioneers, and also ‘Songs from the Shed’, Carol Kiernan’s ‘Proudly Promoting a ard Reid (Editors) a musical event on Saturday afternoon in Celtic Nation Abroad...’ Galong, St Clement’s Conference Ned Ryan’s restored shearing shed. The Interspersed with the 2007 papers are Centre, 2007 Saturday evening program included a six additional papers, in the mode of a ‘the concert and other entertainment, includ- best of...’ series, from renowned historians The 16th Shamrock in the Bush seminar ing more wonderful renditions from John and writers. Ruan O’Donnell writes of the was held at St Clement’s Retreat and Dengate and a delightful satirical piece contentious plan to mark the 100th anni- Conference Centre, Galong, NSW, on 31 at the expense of the convenor, Richard versary of 1798 by relocating the grave of July – 3 August 2008. Fifteen speakers Reid, from the mischievous Jen Kelson. the rebel hero, Michael Dwyer, the ‘Wick- and about 100 delegates attended. Over time Shamrock has become an lowman’, to a more prestigious location. Given that the seminar had its genesis institution in its own right with a following 100,000 gathered in Sydney to watch in the Canberra and District Historical who want to book their rooms in advance the procession, which took place without Society it was not surprising that about from year to year. Indeed it has become inciting civil or clerical opposition. half of the delegates were from Canberra VRSRSXODUWKDWSODFHVDUHXVXDOO\¿OOHGDV Trevor McClaughlin asserts that just as and environs. Other than a small con- soon as bookings open. it is wrong to think of all the Irish in Aus- tingent from Melbourne, the remaining To commemorate Shamrock’s 15th tralia as Catholic, nationalist and republi- delegates were from elsewhere in New year, the organisers have published a can rebels, so too Protestant Irish should South Wales. collection of essays as Echoes of Irish not be seen as being all bigoted Orange- The seminar is held annually at St Australia: Rebellion to Republic. The col- men or Empire loyalists. Elizabeth Kwan Clement’s, originally the homestead of lection includes 17 of the papers from the considers the tensions and sensitivities in the pioneer pastoralist, Ned Ryan, and 2007 seminar. Patrick O’Farrell’s pioneer- WKHXVHRIÀDJVLQWKHIDPRXV6W3DWULFN¶V more recently a minor seminary for the ing work, The Irish in Australia, was said Day procession in Melbourne in 1920. Redemptorist order. to be a little bit of the story so far of the In his discussion of republicanism Convened by the Canberra academic, men and women who came from Ireland. in Ireland and Australia, John Molony Richard Reid, the seminar is most ably The publishers of Echoes hope that their writes that nationality in Australia and and competently managed by the inde- collection will add to O’Farrell’s tale. Ireland was honed by rejection and fatigable Cheryl Mongan. Brian Maher, a Echoes takes readers on a journey from struggle. The volume also includes, post- senior priest of the Canberra Archdiocese, the earliest convict days through to the humously, papers by Oliver MacDonagh leprechaunish in stature, and co-founder establishment of full diplomatic relations and Patrick O’Farrell. of the seminar, is the current seminar between an independent Republic of Ire- Amply illustrated, the publication patron and the respected reference point land and the Commonwealth of Australia. contains names and thematic indexes, IRUFODUL¿FDWLRQRIORFDOKLVWRU\ Its papers include, amongst others, Peter comprehensive end notes and an extensive Shamrock 16 maintained the theme of MacFie’s ‘Tasmania – Home for Ireland’s bibliography. the Irish experience in Australia, with top- Forgotten Rebels of 1848’, Michael Echoes adds substantially to the ics ranging from rebels, Fenians, soldiers, McKernan’s ‘Under Orders: a Glimpse O’Farrell tale. The Shamrock convenors artists, poets and politicians to literature, of Clerical Past’, Val Noone’s ‘An Irish can rest assured that they have achieved art and language. Piquant music and verse Rebel in Victoria: Charles Gavan Duffy, their objective. They are to be congratu- from the seminar’s resident minstrel, John Selectors, Squatters and Aborigines’, Jeff lated for their continuing energy in arrang- Dengate, complemented the presentations. Kildea’s ‘Paranoia and Prejudice: Billy ing the Shamrock seminar and their initia- The seminar was not all hard grind. Hughes and the Irish Question 1916- tive in publishing Echoes. 2XWRIVHVVLRQHYHQWVLQFOXGHGWKHRI¿FLDO 1922’, Jeff Brownrigg’s ‘Irish Mothers Patrick McNamara R & C Conveyancing Property transfer specialists Rose Brady – Associate member AIC (Vic Div) Mobile: 0419 001 318 Phone: 03 5996 2759 Facsimile: 03 5996 3131 Email: [email protected] 42 Tinteán March 2009 Kerry’s football legend Dick Fitzgerald: King in a Kingdom of ball, as published in 1914. Kings Biographical details of Fitzgerald’s Tom Looney early life are soon swamped in match Currach Press, 2008 reports which feature walk-offs, forfeits, games being abandoned and disputed The very nature of this book will restrict results going to appeal. After coping with abandoned and awarded to Kerry, only to its readership to those with a passion for two pages being transposed in publica- see the result overruled on appeal and a Gaelic football and, in particular, those tion, I found it somewhat bizarre to read replay ordered. There are many similarly with an appetite for re-living the golden that the 1903 Senior Munster Champion- contentious results described, illustrat- GD\V RI WKH .HUU\ WHDP LQ WKH ¿UVW WZR ship was played in June 1904 and the ing the organisational chaos whichmust decades of the twentieth century. 1903 All Ireland Final took place in July have prevailed at the time. The story of the great Dick Fitzgerald, 1905! The latter game, between Kerry Fitzgerald was more than just a foot- star and captain of the Kerry team and and Kildare, was notable for an inci- ball legend. He was a Second Lieutenant the famous Dr Crokes club is recounted dent when the ball disappeared behind in the Irish Volunteers and several chap- with considerable detail given to the the crowd that had encroached upon ters are devoted to this era of rebellion. important matches in which he played. WKH ¿HOG 7KH .HUU\ SOD\HUV VWRSSHG Fitzgerald was arrested and detained in He later went on to be a trainer for the assuming that the ball was dead, only Frongoch Internment Camp in 1916. He Dr Crokes team, a County selector and WRVHHLWHPHUJHGRZQ¿HOGLQFRQWURORI later became a Councillor, representing delegate and sometime Chairman of the their opponents who then scored a goal, Sinn Fein, on the Killarney Urban Dis- County Board. He also refereed at club allowed by the referee. If that wasn’t trict Council and sided with Michael Col- and county level. enough excitement for the day, Kerry lins in the Civil War. He died tragically The author, currently Canon and Par- soon regained the lead when the oppos- after a fall from the roof of a building in ish Priest of Dingle, is a former Gaelic ing goalman was adjudged to have put 1930, aged forty-seven. At his funeral, footballer himself and a proud Kerry- a foot over the line in taking the ball. KLVFOXE¶VÀRUDOWULEXWHUHIHUUHGWRKLPDV man. The book also contains a reprint of Kildare disputed the decision and the ‘Ireland’s Greatest Gael’. Fitzgerald’s How to Play Gaelic Foot- FURZGLQYDGHGWKH¿HOG7KHJDPHZDV Robert J F Butler JVS\TZHUKZPYL NYLNJOHTWPVU WYLZLU[Z 8hkdim_YaJemd>Wbb IWjkhZWo'*CWhY^.fc J^[Bek_iCYCWdki noIY\UZ^PJR C[ceh_Wb9edY[hj ZLHT\ZILNSL` T\ZPJMLZ[P]HS QPTT\YYH`PYL RH[LI\YRL HKVIHYRLY THYJOTHYJO 8hkdim_YaJemd>Wbb MVY[OLILZ[PUPYPZOHUK J^khiZWo'/CWhY^".fc JLS[PJT\ZPJ¯ TLSIV\YULZJV[[PZO MPKKSLJS\I 8hkdim_YaJemd>Wbb IkdZWo'+CWhY^"-$)&fc ZOVVNSLUPM[`ZJV JVU\UKY\T ;Wij8hkdim_Ya9bkX J^khiZWo'(CWhY^".$)&fc JLS[HJS`ZTPJ JVYHSMHYYV^ C[Y^Wd_Yi?dij_jkj[F79 Tinteán March 2009 43 Irish settlement at Shoreham One of the most beautiful areas of the popular Mornington Peninsula, with its rolling green hills, dotted with wineries and restaurants, is the district of Shoreham on Westernport Bay. The area was originally known as Stony Creek, the name being changed to Shoreham, in 1881, to avoid confusion with the Stony Point mail. What is not widely known is that this district was originally very much an Irish Catholic settlement. While the earliest pio- neer in the area was a Scot, Henry Tuck, he married Catherine Falvey from Cork and converted to Catholicism. Tuck took up a ¿YHPLOHVWULSRIVRPHDFUHVRQ:HVWHUQSRUWWKHRULJLQDO Manton’s Creek Station. He built a home for his family and com- menced cattle grazing and farming. Shortly afterwards, in the ¶VDJURXSRI,ULVK&DWKROLFVHWWOHUVFDPHWRWKH6KRUHKDP DUHDDIWHUWU\LQJWKHLUOXFNLQWKH9LFWRULDQJROG¿HOGV$PRQJ them were the Byrne, Dowling, Kennedy, Nowlan, Riley and Ryan families. Byrne and Nowlan family holdings soon occu- pied what is today’s Shoreham. Other Irish in the district at the time included the Higgins, Maher and Monahan families. 7KHUHLVDQDPXVLQJDFFRXQWRIDEXVKFRQ¿UPDWLRQEHLQJ FDUULHG RXW LQ 0DUFK E\ WKH ¿UVW $UFKELVKRS RI 0HO- ERXUQH-DPHV$OLSLXV*RROGLQWKH\HDUEHIRUHWKHRULJLQDO St Peter’s Church was built at Stony Creek (Shoreham). The story was passed on by eyewitnesses to Fr Edmund Nowlan, a The Adare lands as they are today, Westernport Bay and grandson of one of the early pioneers, Peter Nowlan, and duly Phillip Island in the background recorded thus: µ7KH OLWWOH VHWWOHPHQW RI 6KRUHKDP ZDV ¿OOHG ZLWK WR 6KRUHKDP $ERXW ¿IW\ KRUVHPHQ KDG VHW RXW IURP excitement! The news had reached the scattered 6KRUHKDP WR PHHW WKH$UFKELVKRS DW 0RUQLQJWRQ DQG homesteads and there was but one topic of conversation escort him to Adare. On arriving at Mornington, they DW *UHDYHV¶ *HQHUDO 6WRUH DQG 3RVW 2I¿FH«« found that Young’s buggy and pair had left and, as they Shoreham was content to live its calm, easygoing had not met it on the way, realized with dismay that they XQHYHQWIXOOLIH«%XWWRGD\ZDVGLIIHUHQW(YHQWKHIHZ had missed the track and were heading for Dromana. So non-Catholics were caught up in the common interest, the cavalcade wheeled around and started at a hot gallop IRU $UFKELVKRS *RROG ZDV FRPLQJ DOO WKH ZD\ IURP LQ SXUVXLW RI WKH HSLVFRSDO FDUULDJH 7KH $UFKELVKRS 0HOERXUQHWRJLYH&RQ¿UPDWLRQDWAdare... the selection must have thought of bushrangers as the thunder of hoofs of old Peter Nowlan, one of the pioneers of the district. JUHZORXGHUDQGFORVHULQWKHUHDU$W%DOFRPEH&UHHN The homestead was a wattle and daub structure – WKHKRUVHPHQRYHUWRRNDQGVXUURXQGHGWKH$UFKELVKRS ¿YH URRPV DQG ZKLWHZDVKHG QR SODFH WR KRXVH WKH « DQG WKHQ WKH SDUW\ WXUQHG URXQG DQG WKH JXDUG RI $UFKELVKRS %XW ZRUN VWDUWHG LQ HDUQHVW WR PDNH WKH honour led the way across the hills to Shoreham. SODFHORRNLWVEHVW)HQFHVZHUH¿[HGVWDEOHVFOHDQHG The account goes on to describe their arrival at around 3 XS DQG JLYHQ D VSODVK RI ZKLWHZDVK««,QVLGH WKHUH o’clock Saturday afternoon. Visitors camped in spring-carts or was bedlam, for after all ‘He’ was coming next Sunday! in the barn which had been cleaned up and decorated for a dance The sewing machine worked at high pressure, making on the Sunday evening. On the following morning, after three QHZFXUWDLQVIRUWKH$UFKELVKRS¶VURRP«:LQGRZV 0DVVHVSHRSOHZHUHFRQ¿UPHG7KH\RXQJHVWZDVOLWWOH$OLFH DQGPDWV WKHUHZHUHQRRLOFORWKVRUFDUSHWVDVWKHÀRRUV 5LOH\DJHGHLJKWDQGWKHROGHVWWKH\HDUROG+HQU\7XFN were of mud) were cleaned and the preliminaries were The ceremony was held in the living room of the old house, ¿QLVKHG EHIRUH WKH RUJ\ RI FRRNLQJ ZRXOG FRPPHQFH WKHFRQJUHJDWLRQRYHUÀRZLQJLQWREHGURRPVSDVVDJHZD\VDQG on Thursday. WKHYHUDQGDK$IWHUWKHFHUHPRQ\ZDVFRPSOHWHGEUHDNIDVWZDV Father Carey, the Parish Priest, arrived on horseback VHWLQWKHOLYLQJURRPIRUWKH$UFKELVKRSDQGWKHWZRSULHVWV on Friday afternoon, all the way from Brighton, the Billies were boiled and the congregation breakfasted outside. QHDUHVW SDULVK FHQWUH« 2Q WKH ZD\ WKH\ KDG SDVVHG 6KRUWO\DIWHUZDUGVWKH$UFKELVKRSVWDUWHGRQKLVZD\EDFNWR many spring-carts and drays – all making for Adare«« Melbourne. 0HDQZKLOHWKH$UFKELVKRSZDVZHOORQKLVZD\IURP The day continued after the departure of the VIP with a Melbourne. He reached Frankston on Friday evening and picnic and, in the evening, the countryside was said to have stopped at Mark Young’s Bay View Hotel. Now, Mark UHYHUEHUDWHGZLWK¿GGOHFRQFHUWLQDDQGPXFKODXJKWHUDVWKH Young was famous for his fast ponies and, on Saturday celebratory dance took place in the barn. The place just hasn’t PRUQLQJLQVLVWHGRQSHUVRQDOO\GULYLQJWKH$UFKELVKRS been the same since! RYHUWKHWZHQW\¿YHPLOHVRIURXJKEXVKWUDFNWKDWOHG Robert J F Butler 44 Tinteán March 2009 THE AUSTRALIAN IRISH HERITAGE NETWORK No 1, August 2007–Dec 2007 for liliveelyly and ccrritical writing aboout the celeelebbraratioPRINTn of POST Irel APPROVEDana d’s he PPr itage in Austraalliia 336663/00047 THETH AUSTRALIAN IRISH HERITAGE NETWORK E AU STRA LIAN Only $55 per yeaIRrISH HERI ((44 issuess)) TAGE No 2, NovemberNET 2007 PRINT POST APPROVED PP WO $XVVWWUDOLDQ,ULVKKLVWRU\\ERRNV&'VJHQHV&'VJHQHDORJ\DORJ\WUDYHOOHUV¶WDOHRVK SROLWLFVIDPLOLO\KLVKLVLVWRU\UHYLHZVVSRVSRUWFXUUHQWHYHQWVRUWUWFXUUHQWHYHQWVFXUUH 336663/00047 $6 Jusst fill in the form on pagge 1THETH7 a AUSTRALIANnd post iit toIRISH: HERITAGE NETWORK HE AAU STRRAA Australian Irish Heritagge Network, POO Box1x 13095, LaLIwIANNCoCoururtss,, ViV cc,, 880010 IRIR SSHH HEERRIIT TAAGGE NNEETWT PRINT POSTNoN APPROVEDo 3,3 March PP 2008ORO Mar K ch 2 336663/00047008 $6 THE AUSTRALIAN IRISH HERITAGE NETWORK H HERIT AGE NETW PRINT POST APPROVEDNoN 4, PPJune 2008OR POST o 4 K APPR , June OVEVED PP 33 20 336663/000476663/ 08 00047 THE AUSTRALIAN IRISH HERITAGE NETWORK No 5, September 2008 PRINT POST APPROVED PP POST APP ptetemb RK ROVEVED P er 2 P 33666336663/00047008 3/00047 gag THE AUSTRALIAN IRISH HERITAGE NETWORK a No 6, December 2008 PRINT POST APPROVED PP 336663/00047 Card inal Dispelling the Myths Mo Patricia O'Connor r he M Aran Isles’ currachs Elizabeth Malcolm Farewelling Gregchs Dening Terry Monagle 1946–2008 Eileen Monagle, Peter Kiernan, Val Noone ValVa Noone and Frances Devlin-Glass PeterNNoNoooooon Steele S.J. onne an DyingDying for land d France for s De land vlin-Gla ss St Patrick’s Day at the Celtic Club Tuesday 17th March, doors open at 9am Live music from 11am in the Tara Bar, from 12 noon in the Brian Boru Function Room Food Available in the Shamrock Restaurant from 12 noon til 9pm Live Music at the Tara Bar on St Patrick’s Day 11am–1pm Traditional Session with the Fitzgerald Family 1.30pm–4.30pm The Fitzgerald Brothers 5pm–7pm Pat McKernan 7.30pm–Close Knot O’The Gate Live Music at the Brian Boru Room on St Patrick’s Day 12 noon til 2pm Inisfree 2.30pm–5.30pm Knot O’The Gate 6pm–9pm Donegal Express 9.30pm–Close Sporting Paddy t 03 9670 6472 f 9670 5153 [email protected] www.celticclub.com.au 316-320 Queen St cnr Latrobe St, Melbourne The Celtic Club is a licensed club. Members should present their membership cards on request by a staff member. Non-members are requested to sign the visitors’ book. Visitors and new members are always welcome. Please ask our friendly staff about becoming a member.