Community Newsletter of St. Patrick’s Society of MontrealNUACHT And the force was with us! By Martina Branagan istory was made on the 4th May 2017 well-crafted and thoughtful speech. Has the Canadian-Irish community The Taoiseach praised many of the qualities that turned out in great numbers to welcome distinguish Canada: “This is a great country and Taoiseach Enda Kenny to Montreal. In building on the open, global, liberal and generous Canada 4-6 May, visiting Ottawa, Toronto qualities, I predict that over the next 20 years Canada, and Montreal, the Taoiseach sought to will become an even greater force for the good of further strengthen economic, trade and humanity as we face unprecedented challenges up investment ties with Canada motivated by ahead.” the potential business opportunities arising He commented on the current state of politics, from CETA and the Irish Government’s democracy and the neglect of the centre ground market diversification in favour of the plan, core to its Brexit balance sheet: strategy. “And it is the During his visit Centre that to Montreal, the the Irish Nobel Taoiseach of Ireland laureate WB and the Prime Minister Yeats once said of Canada spoke at cannot hold, the packed Chamber now must hold, of Commerce of and hold with Metropolitan Montreal alacrity… Across International Leaders democracies, Luncheon attended our best are by senior members being pushed to of the Montreal the hard Left by business community. An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, T.D. anger to the hard While social media was all atwitter about Right by fear.” In that context he praised PM Trudeau: Canada’s Premier’s mismatched coloured “you know the difference between patriotism and Star Wars socks worn to mark the 4th of nationalism.” While he recognized the value of the May (May the force be with you!) and the European Union in that context, “It has brought us Irish media honed in on the political fate of one of the longest most sustained peace periods on Taoiseach Enda Kenny, the latter delighted our continent, generations have grown up without the Canadian-Irish Community and the being called up.” His call to aim for “the higher audience of 500 strong, with what most things, Freedom, Philosophy, Art, Ideas, Love, Spirit” considered to be an articulately delivered, resonated with the audience. cont. p. 3 • We had a ball... what a ball! ............................................................................................................. p. 4-5 • The best ever ... St. Patrick’s Day luncheon ................................................................................p. 6-7 • Walk to the Park - to preserve from desecration! .................................................................... p. 8-9 • Tara Golf Club 2016 round-up and teeing off for 2017 ............................................................p. 10 • Ciné Gael’s 25th anniversary season round-up ......................................................................... p. 12 • Last thoughts on Martin McGuinness ........................................................................................... p. 13 • News from the School of Irish Studies at Concordia University... .................................. p. 14-15 • Irish Community Welcome for Mr. Breen .....................................................................................p. 16 NUACHT • Dreams come true at World Championships of Irish Dance in Dublin .............................. p. 17 • St. Colomban honours their Irish Heritage with a new street .............................................. p. 18 • One of our own crowns his big goal .............................................................................................. p. 19 May 2017 INSIDE • Irish Participation at the battle of VIMY RIDGE ....................................................................p. 20-21 Vol. 30, Issue 2 • In Memoriam - Patrick Wilson Rourke ...........................................................................................p. 23 • 2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS / CLÁR IMEACHTAÍ 2017 ............................................................p. 24 A word from the President By Scott Phelan hatn a absolutely incredible Irish Season this year! From the opening film of Ciné Gael on February 3rd to the closing Waward banquet on April 1st, the festivities were all first rate. Of course Montreal’s 375th and Canada’s 150th were motivation for all the Irish Societies to do something special to help commemorate these landmarks. This year also saw the inauguration of the Montreal Irish Festival. The Festival’s concept was to bring together all the Irish events in February and March under one marketing umbrella to better involve all communities in the celebration of our Irish heritage and culture. Certainly our 170th Charity Ball and 184th Charity Luncheon were reflections of this effort and both were major hits. I was delighted to see that attendance was up again this year for both events and that both were financially successful with monies NUACHT raised going to our cultural, educational and charitable endeavors. This year’s Ball was a dazzling affair held at the Chalet on Mount Royal with many Society members, dignitaries, sister societies and special guests in attendance. Many thanks to our Guests of Honour, Ambassador Jim Kelly and Mayor Russell Copeman and to our Patrons, Teresa Dellar, Pierrette Sevigny and Richard McConomy for their tremendous support. Kudos also to our wonderful Ball Committee for such a complex task so well done and for putting in the extra effort to make this year’s Ball such a unique and fabulous experience for all who attended. A special thanks to Past President, Jim Killin who worked extremely hard getting it perfect with the City of Montreal and also to event producers, Eventure who performed beyond expectations. This year, the annual Luncheon moved to a new location at the Plaza Ballroom of the EVO Center and was one of the best ever. In celebration of Montreal’s 375th, it was my pleasure to introduce Mayor Denis Coderre, this year’s Parade Grand Marshal, as a special Guest Speaker. Our formal Guest Speaker was John Rae, Executive Vice-president of Power Corporation, who was touchingly introduced by his brother Bob, former Premier of Ontario. And what a speech John gave! Congratulations to Luncheon Chair, Carol McCormick and her team for all their tremendous work and innovation in putting on such a wonderful afternoon. This year’s 194th St. Patrick’s Parade had beautiful skies, huge crowds and many special dignitaries including a surprise visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. For the second year in a row, the Society won the award for Best Marching Sister Society, awarded by the UIS. Parade Chair, Lynda Premerl and her committee which included St. Pat’s Vice-president, Christie Brown and Treasurer, Laurie Bennett, did a great job in assembling such a great-looking, and well-behaved, marching group! The very next weekend saw St. Patrick’s Vice-president, Ken Quinn heading up the Montreal Irish contingent who participated in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Quebec City on March 25th. Ken, one of last year’s Quebec City Parade Marshalls, led the feisty group in yet another successful parade capped off by a celebratory pint in nearby St. Patrick’s Pub. I would be remiss if I did not also once again single out Lynn Doyle for doing such a magnificent job on the annual Ciné Gael Film Festival which celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2017. Lynn has been at the helm since the very beginning and is the heart and soul of the Festival. Ciné Gael is a unique celebration of Irish art and culture that is both very highly regarded and extremely well attended. Congratulations Lynn! There are of course very important upcoming events that are deserving of your patronage and worthy of your attendence. First off, on Sunday May 28th, the AOH will again be hosting the annual March to the Stone. This year it is particularly important NUACHT, Community Newsletter of St. Patrick’s Society of Montreal that we show our support for the Walk as by doing so we also show Production: Martina Branagan (Editor) our support for The Montreal Irish Monument Park Foundation Maura Druda who are working towards creating a more permanent and fitting Jim Killin Ken Quinn monument to the world’s oldest memorial to the victims of the Dave Supleve Irish Famine, which is the Black Rock. This year, on behalf of the Email: [email protected] Society, I will be laying a wreath in memory of the 6,000 men, Advertising: E-mail: [email protected] women and children interred there in 1847 and 1848. Come walk Printing: Centre de copie commerciale with us as it will be a day to remember. 460 St. Catherine Street West On Tuesday June 20th, this year’s 22nd Annual Charity Golf Montreal, QC H3B 1A7 Tournament will be held at the lovely Club de Golf Bellvue in Tel.: (514) 842-2545 Ville de Lery. Normally a sold out event, the tournament rests in Subscription: $25.00 per year the capable hands of Paul Doyle and his terrific committee. For more information and to either purchase tickets, sponsor a hole Please address all contributions to the Editor at the Society Office. Tel.: (514) 481-1346 Fax: (514) 481-9048 or donate some prizes to our raffle, please visit our website at www.spsmtl.com or call Katie Irving at our office at 514-481-1346. E-mail: [email protected] The “Season” may be over but the work of running your Society St. Patrick’s Society of Montreal St. Patrick Square goes on. Initiatives are in the works to revitalize our youth wing, 6767 Côte St. Luc Road, #1 create another 5-year strategic plan and other new and exciting Montreal, QC H4V 2Z6 ideas. In order to keep our Members up to date with what your www.spsmtl.com Board of Directors is up to, we are holding a General Meeting Deadline for submissions for next issue: August 26, 2017 May 2017 2 A word from the President cont. NUACHT By Scott Phelan for all members at St. Patrick’s Square on Wednesday June 14th at 7 p.m. Please set aside the date and watch for more information in your inbox in the coming weeks. It’s important that we have your guidance and support in making these decisions and launching these new projects.