THE AUSTRALIAN IRISH HERITAGE NETWORK No 19, March 2012 PRINT POST APPROVED PP 336663/00047

Leaving Dublin Irish on the Estancias

Tinteán No 19, March 2012 Contents Tinteán is a publication of the Australian Irish Heritage Network Regulars 2 Letters: Canon Turner, A gold mine of history, Thank you and more… PO Box 13095, Law Courts, 3 Editorial: The end for Tinteán?, The AIHN Editorial Committee Melbourne, 8010 4 What's on: Tel 03 9670 8865 5 Irish economic news: , Email [email protected] 6 News: New Irish Ambassador, Web tintean.org.au 7 Bolg an tSoláthair/ Odds & Ends: Centenary of Molly O’Donnell, Val Noone Published four times per annum 8 Miscellany: Glasnevin Cemetary, Joseph Murphy ABN 13643653067 11 Music: Kickstarting a music collection, Stuart Traill ISSN 1835-1093 14 Irish language: Ceathracha Bliain Faoi Bhláth Sa Tír Thíos Faoi, Bearnaí Ó Doibhlin Editor: Liz McKenzie 16 Poetry: Mary O’Byrne, Ann Egan Deputy Editor: Felicity Allen Poetry Editor: Meg McNena Features 12 Links in a Chain: The Great Famine, The Orphan Girls & The Rock, Debra Vaughan Business Manager: Rob Butler 15 Daonscoil 2012, Deirdre Gillespie Advertising: Rob Butler 18 The Imperial origins of Ireland’s National Museum, Pat Cooke Production: Andrew Macdermid 20 Leaving Dublin, Ángel Luis González Printing: Arena Printing 23 Arson on the Essex, Anne McMahon 2-14 Kerr St Fitzroy Vic 24 Beneath the Southern Cross: the Irish in Argentina, Mairtín O’Fáinín Other workers on this issue: 26 Not a spontaneous adventure, Richard O’Brien Peter Kiernan, Catherine Arthur, 29 Brigidfest 2012: servant-girls with tickets on themselves, Frances Devlin-Glass Frances Devlin-Glass, Bob Glass, 29 Joe Creighton’s ‘Into the Mystic’, Mairéid Sullivan Kate Cliff ord, Julia Kühns, Don 30 Hobart’s favoured guest, John Hagan McKenzie, Elizabeth Benfell, Debra 32 The fi rst hurling game in Melbourne, Patrick Morgan Vaughan, Rob Butler. 37 Furphy Centenary, Frances Devlin-Glass Views expressed in the articles, letters and advertisements are those of the contributors Reviews and not necessarily those of the Australian Irish Heritage Network or of the editor. 34 Rebel Heart, Terence O’Reilly, reviewed by Felicity Allen 35 Ó Chogadh go Síocháin, Cormac Morel, reviewed by Elizabeth McKenzie Cover 36 Underground Cathedrals, Mark Patrick Hederman OSB, reviewed by Philip Harvey Tom, Nina, Isaac, Kael and Sophia Scott: 38 Father Browne’s Australia, E.E. O’Donnell SJ (ed.), reviewed by Peter Kiernan a family reluctantly making preparations 39 They Dreamed of Gold: A Pioneer Keegan Family of Australia, Deirdre Irwin and to move to the U.K. Photo from David Judith Perkins (eds), reviewed by Patrick McNamara Monahan’s ‘Leaving Dublin’ project. 40 On Canaan’s Side, Sebastian Barry, reviewed by Frances Devlin-Glass The Australian Irish Heritage Network Objectives tralians have made to Australia. The intention is to explore and The Australian Irish Heritage Network aims to build the social, celebrate the playing out of the Irish heritage in Australia – cultural, sporting, historical and literary consciousness of Irish past, present and future. Australians and to explore and celebrate the development of Activities Irish heritage and culture in Australia. As well as the magazine, AIHN plans to conduct social and Principal Activity educational events; disseminate news and information via the As its fi rst priority, AIHN produces the literary magazine internet; off er recognition for service to literary and historical Tinteán (meaning hearth in Gaelic and pronounced ‘Tintawne’ endeavours; issue cultural and political comment; and research – the fada on the á giving the syllable the dominant stress and and record our heritage. the ‘augh’ sound, as in ‘taught’). Membership The focus of the magazine is to build and explore the Aus- Anyone identifying with Irish heritage is welcome to join. tralian Irish identity. The magazine welcomes material which AIHN Committee explores the big themes of exile, diaspora and settlement. It President: Frances Devlin-Glass also encourages the telling of the micro-stories that express Vice-President: Peter Kiernan narratives of individuals and families. Secretary: Bob Glass There will be a continual study of the political and economic Treasurer: Rob Butler evolution of Ireland, and of the contribution which Irish-Aus- Committee Members: Felicity Allen, Liz McKenzie

Tinteán March 2012 1 Letters Canon Turner student performers; The present issue of Tinteán was probably the best I have read. ‡receiving grants from the City of Greater Bendigo, the Irish In the discussion of the presidential candidates, the comments Embassy, and other sponsors; in regard to Martin McGuinness were very insightful, someone ‡employing the services of a paid stage manager; who had experience of living there. ‡inviting VIPs to attend. The book review of retired Canon Turner caught my atten- The ordinary concerts were distinguished by: being based on tion, as I knew him well during my three years in Belfast at DWKHPH MD]]RSHUHWWDHWF ZHUHKHOGDWWKH2OG)LUH6WDWLRQ Columbans Community with Fr. Michael Hurley. Twice on Bendigo; no performers or the stage manager were paid; no grants Good Friday, I preached at the Seven Last Words of the Passion were applied for or received; no VIPS were invited to them. These at Edgar’s church, St. George’s, High Street. And when he and events were fund raising concerts for certain charities, including: Joan were returning from New Zealand, I met them in the Transit ÀRRGDQGEXVK¿UHDSSHDOVWKH6DFUHG+HDUW&DWKHGUDO3LSH2UJDQ Lounge at Tullamarine. If possible, I’d like to read the book of Restoration Fund, and the Wallace Commemorations. essays on Edgar T. some time in the New Year. The concert ‘A Celtic Odyssey’ was an ordinary concert, and F. Malcolm Crawford, IXO¿OOHGDOOWKHDERYHFULWHULD,PXVWVD\WKDW,IRUJRWWRWHOO9DO St. Finbar’s Catholic Parish, Brighton East. Noone this before he attended the concert and wrote up his draft (We were glad to send to Fr. Crawford that book of essays- Ed.) review. A couple of the performers, particularly Meryl Wilkinson, harpist and singer of songs in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, were A gold mine of history professional. The use of a continuity person, rather than a paid I received the December copy of Tinteán and have enjoyed VWDJHPDQDJHUKHOSHGWKHFRQFHUWWRÀRZSUHWW\VHDPOHVVO\6R reading it from cover to cover. Your review of the book on an audience member or a reviewer could be forgiven for thinking Canon Edgar Turner of Belfast was very interesting and that it was more a major event concert! I trust this will clarify the informative. One rarely reads positive accounts of Church of situation regarding future concerts which I present. Ireland pastors unfortunately. John Clancy Where do your contributors get such interesting topics? Bendigo Ireland is a gold mine of history. Sr. Loretta Brennan, CSB, William Vincent Wallace Bicentenary Concert Nairobi, Kenya. I was delighted to read in the December edition of Tinteán that John Clancy is presenting a William Vincent Wallace bicente- Thank you nary concert in September. My husband and I attended a concert I am writing to thank all at Tinteán for the wonderful coverage to honour my great, great aunt, Amy Sherwin, the Tasmanian you gave ‘Not Just Ned ‘ in the pages of the last two editions. Nightingale, in Bendigo in November 2009. It was a great occa- Naturally, I was more than grateful both on my own behalf and sion as no concert to honour her had ever been presented in on behalf of the National Museum of Australia. We had excel- Australia. Wallace’s Maritana had been one of her great roles. My lent press coverage throughout the land (and great attendance cousins, Lyall Duke and Kathleen Gilmour, who also attended, ¿JXUHV EXWVXFKVXSSRUWIURPDQ,ULVK$XVWUDOLDQPDJD]LQHRI found it a marvellous tribute to her as so much planning and quality was something special. research had gone into the production. It involved acting, mime, It has been a big year for me. Not only did the exhibition, narrative, music and song. It was presented as if Amy, then in a and two attendant publications, see the light, but Anchor Books nursing home in London and at the end of her life, was recount- published my doctoral thesis of twenty years ago – Farewell My ing her past to a young nurse. John Clancy wove the characters Children: Irish Assisted Emigration to Australia, 1848-1870. I and the music together in a most charming way. had a few more months with the NMA to see the end of the exhi- It was a most professional production and the performance bition and I then returned to my old position as Senior Historian RI VRSUDQR -HQQLIHU 6FKDW]OH ZDV ZRQGHUIXO , XQGHUVWDQG WKH with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. then Federal Member for Denison in Hobart wrote to the City of Richard Reid Greater Bendigo to thank it for this enterprise honouring a great Farrer, ACT Tasmanian. The Embassy of Ireland also generously supported it. I understand that John Clancy is considering a similar semi- Concerts in Bendigo. dramatic approach to the William Vincent Bicentenary Concert. I feel that in the light of the review of ‘A Celtic Odyssey’ concert I am sure that John’s talents and expertise, as well as the singers, in the December edition of Tinteán, certain distinctions need to QDUUDWRUDQGPXVLFLDQVLQYROYHGZLOOPDNHLWDJUHDWDQG¿W EHFODUL¿HG,QWKHSDVWVHYHQ\HDUV,KDYHSUHVHQWHGVHYHQFRQ ting memorial concert for this most famous of Irish composers. certs in Bendigo, some of them being presented for the Bendigo I trust that the Irish and artistic communities in Melbourne will Irish Association. These concerts have represented a two-tier come out and support such an historic occasion. I will consider system: major event concerts and ordinary concerts. The ‘major travelling from Tasmania to attend. HYHQWFRQFHUWV¶ZHUHGLVWLQJXLVKHGE\VSHFL¿FIHDWXUHVVXFKDV :LOOLDP 9LQFHQW :DOODFH FRXOG QRW DVN IRU D PRUH ¿WWLQJ ‡being presented to commemorate the life and achievements tribute than this concert considering the several years he spent in of a particular Irish or Irish associated artist; NSW and Tasmania. ‡being held in the spectacular surroundings of either The Judith A Bowler, 6KDPURFN+RWHORUWKH%HQGLJR%DQN &DSLWRO 7KHDWUH Author of ‘Amy Sherwin, The Tasmanian Nightingale’, Hobart, ‡featuring paid professional performers and some amateur/ Tasmania

2 Tinteán March 2012 The end for Tinteán? While Tinteán continues to attract subscription income, our annual simply, is that we enjoy it. We feel priv- praise from wide sources for the qual- ORVV RQ SURGXFWLRQ RI WKH PDJD]LQH ileged to be part of the community the LW\RIWKHPDJD]LQHDQGWKHHQMR\PHQW is currently in the order of $10,000. PDJD]LQHKDVFUHDWHGDURXQGWKHZRUOG LWSURYLGHVWRLWVUHDGHUVRXU¿QDQFLDO Although the full rate of subscription sharing a passion about Australian- position is precarious. Our subscription falls far short of meeting our actual Irish history and culture as well as income and the support from our loyal costs, your committee has resisted the contemporary issues in Ireland and of advertisers is simply not enough to sup- temptation to seek increases in sub- the Irish diaspora (we have no short- port our ongoing production beyond scription rates as this would disadvan- age of contributors on these subjects! the next issue or so. WDJHVLJQL¿FDQWQXPEHUVRIRXUUHDG Ed %XWKRZHYHUPXFKZHHQMR\WKH The production of a quality maga- HUV&OHDUO\WKLVDQQXDOGH¿FLWFDQQRW intellectual and social stimulation of ]LQHIROORZLQJWKHSRSXODULW\RITáin, be overcome simply by an increase in SURGXFLQJWKHPDJD]LQH¿QDQFLQJLWLV was made possible only by personal the number of subscribers. EHFRPLQJPRUHDQGPRUHGLI¿FXOW loans and donations from the small We pay no wages and our volunteers Your managing committee are cur- band of individuals who have brought give up much of their time, not to men- rently examining ways of extending WKH PDJD]LQH WR \RX WRJHWKHU ZLWK tion travelling expenses to produce our life as the major publication for further generous donations from WKH PDJD]LQH 7KH RI¿FH SURYLGHG DW Australians of Irish heritage but it is subscribers. Additionally, two years no cost to us by the Melbourne Celtic possible that Tinteán, in its present ago, we received a most generous Club, is staffed on an intermittent basis printed form, could well cease after the grant from the Eldon Hogan Trust. by two committee members, a couple QH[W -XQH LVVXH6KRXOGWKLVKDS The original loans to the Tinteán team of gentleman of advancing years who pen, provision has been made to refund have been repaid in full but we are undertake not just essential clerical unused portions of annual subscrip- surviving only on the generosity of our duties but the physical labour of lug- tions paid as we are conscious of our donors who continue to make valuable ging and loading heavy boxes of maga- debt to our loyal subscribers. We hope contributions to supplement our sub- ]LQHV DQG SRVWDO ELQV DOWKRXJK WKH\ to bring you further news – unhappily scription income. should know better! not necessarily good – in the next issue. After receipt of advertising and So, why do we do it? The answer, The AIHN Editorial Committee

Betjeman in Ireland leaving one with the impression that he did little else while in Frank O’Shea’s article on the English poet John Betjeman’s time Ireland. The paper is reprinted in ‘Coming Home: an anthology in Ireland during the Second World War (Tinteán 'HFHPEHU  of prose’, edited by his daughter Candida Lycett Green. LV¿OOHGZLWKVWXIIDERXWKDQJLQJRXWZLWKZULWHUVDQGFDUGLQDOV The best account of the poet’s stay is found in ‘Letters, Volume He also conjectures on the paradoxical concept that Betjeman, an One’, where the editor, again his daughter, explains that Betjeman’s oft-times unworldly aesthete, was a British spy in neutral Ireland. main job was as Press Attaché to the British Ambassador: ‘His brief However, I am astonished to see that O’Shea makes no men- was to further the rather shaky relationship between the two coun- WLRQDWDOODERXWRQHRIWKHPDLQWDVNV%HWMHPDQIXO¿OOHGWKHUH tries, many of the Irish being pro-German.’ In fact it was what has at the time, which was to inspect the churches of the Church of been called a ‘charm offensive’. Much as I enjoy Frank O’Shea’s ,UHODQGIRUDQRI¿FLDOUHSRUW,QKLVDGGUHVVWRWKHFOHUJ\ portrait of the poet motoring around Ireland, it revisits the mistaken men of that church, ‘Fabrics of the Church of Ireland’, Betjeman premise that John Betjeman was simply an English littérateur with VD\Vµ7KHUHDUH,VXSSRVHDERXW&KXUFKRI,UHODQGSODFHV the right connections. Whereas ‘Fabrics of the Church of Ireland’ of worship here. Of these I have only had time to get at the his- shows him to be a man of acute observation, dedication and intel- tory of 656.’ He apologises to the Anglican clergymen that he has ligence, working tirelessly on things he believed in, and for whom EHHQXQDEOHWKHUHIRUHWRFODVVLI\IDEULFV7KLVLWDSSHDUVLV poetry was just one of many permanent preoccupations. what the poet was doing when not drinking with Flann O’Brien Why an IRA member was sent to shoot Betjeman is any- at the Palace Bar, socialising with the Pakenhams, or politick- one’s guess, including possibly the IRA man himself, who ing with Archbishop John McQuaid to speak out to protect the had later gone to the trouble of reading some of the poetry and 3ROLVK&DWKROLFVIURPWKH1D]LV decided Betjeman couldn’t be a spy. A favourite story concerns %HWMHPDQ LV DOUHDG\ LQ IXOO ÀLJKW RQ VXEMHFWV IRU ZKLFK KH Betjeman’s determination to learn Gaelic while in Ireland. He is now renowned: church architecture, historical continuity, and became enthusiastic, as with most things, writing letters in the heritage protection. Such is his passion for these buildings that local language and trying out new phrases on people in the bus he decries as tragic the fact that in every diocese ‘at least one going to work. They would help him out and he became quite eighteenth-century church has been demolished within living SUR¿FLHQWSODLQO\WKHVRUWRIEHKDYLRXUZHZRXOGH[SHFWIURPD PHPRU\DQGDOPRVWHYHU\RWKHUKDV EHHQGHVSRLOHGRILWV¿W top-level operator in espionage. tings i.e. ‘improved’ also within living memory.’ He argues stri- Philip Harvey, Macleod, Victoria dently for protection of High Anglican arrangement and design. Philip Harvey is Poetry editor of Eureka Street, and the Betjeman looked at churches from all periods, from Gothic to Librarian at the Carmelite Library in Middle Park. Gothic revival. As well as the fabric, i.e., the building materials, Together with Dr William Johnston, Philip will give a public he is interested in furnishings, plate, woodwork, hangings, fron- lecture on John Betjeman on 10th May 2012 at St Peter’s tals, galleries, organs, and glass. He goes into elaborate detail, Church, Eastern Hill, Melbourne.

Tinteán March 2012  What’s on

The Echuca Moama Celtic Festival for 2012 Wallace Commemorative Concert 16 -18 March 2012 09 September 2012

The Echuca Moama Celtic Festival for 2012 will be held over the The William Vincent Wallace Bicentenary Concert will take St Patrick’s Day weekend – 16 -18 March. place in Bendigo on Sunday 09 September 2012 at the Capitol With St. Patrick’s Day in the middle of the Festival we will be Theatre. The Bendigo Concert has received a generous grant making this a feature in our Festival. from the City of Greater Bendigo (CGB). The CGB has also awarded the concert a generous Bendigo The Chairman of the board and a board member of the St Bank Theatre subsidy, the Bendigo Bank Theatre being part of Patrick Centre in Down Patrick Ireland will be in attendance the Capitol complex. Among the features of this subsidy are the and will conduct a workshop on St Patrick and the work of services of the professional Capitol staff as front of house staff the Centre. There will also be an exhibition on the Centre and and a professional lighting technician. the work it does. This will be the fi rst time members of the It is hoped to stage another performance at The Celtic Club Centre have visited Australia and we feel privileged to Queen St Melbourne on Sunday 16 September 2012. have them at our Festival. However this will require a Melbourne based sub-committee to organise the concert. Volunteers needed! Robert Arnold, Festival Coordinator Phone 54823817 Mobile 0400563399 John A Clancy, Artistic Director, [email protected] or tel: 54426649

Scoil Gheimhridh Sydney 2012 8 -11 June 2012 Bloomsday 16 June, 2012

Join us on the June long weekend for the Scoil Gheimhridh Emancipating Molly. Details to be confi rmed. Sydney 2012, a weekend of Irish language and craic. Attend www.bloomsdayinmelbourne.org.au language classes, learn Irish dance, tin whistle, Irish songs and poetry during the day, and enjoy evenings with a table quiz, guest speakers and concert followed by late night sessions. Australian Irish Heritage Network The live-in school is open to adults: complete newcomers to the Annual General Meeting Irish language; those who want to refresh their Irish, eg. those who learnt it at school; fl uent people who want to converse in The Annual General Meeting of the Australian Irish Irish and help others learn in small classes at fi ve levels to suit Heritage Network will be held in the Tinteán offi ce in everyone’s skills. the basement of the Celtic Club, 316 Queen St, Melbourne on Sunday 20 May 2012 at 3 pm The Scoil is generously supported by the Emigrant Support Program of the Department of Foreign Aff airs in Ireland. Agenda items will be confi ned to approval of the minutes of the 2011 Annual General Meeting, receipt of reports, Áine McGeown, Rúnaí, 0419 842 686, approval of applications for membership and election email: [email protected] of offi ce holders for 2012–2013. Nominations for the positions of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and two Committee members should be submitted in writing to the Secretary, AIHN, PO Box 13095, Bloomsday in Melbourne presents Law Courts, Melbourne 8010. Nominations must be signed by Big Maggie two AIHN members and accompanied by the written consent of the nominee. A pro forma for the nominations is available A classic of modern Irish Theatre from the Tinteán offi ce at the Celtic Club Two performances only: 7:30pm 27 April & 3pm 29 April ([email protected] or 03 9670 8865). Celtic Club, Melbourne. Bookings essential. Book online at www.bloomsdayinmelbourne.org.au Robert Glass, Secretary, 22 February 2012

For inclusion in the What’s On column, please submit items to [email protected]

 Tinteán March 2012 Irish economic news Views on the immediate future for the Irish economy are mixed. Lalor Chieftan ,QWKHLUSXEOLFDWLRQµ(FRQRPLF(\H¶WKHJLDQWDFFRXQWLQJ¿UP Ernst and Young forecast that Ireland will slowly emerge from recession in 2012. Growth rates will be about 1% and job num- in Victoria bers will show little change. This recovery, in other words, will be the sort only detectable by trained accountants equipped with The Chieftain of the O Leatlobair Clan ( Lalor/Lawlor/ electron microscopes; average punters will think the recession is /DZOHU H[FODLPHGDIWHUKHU¿UVWGD\LQ%DOODUDWYLVLWLQJ still on. That’s Ernst and Young for you – optimists to their boot the Eureka sites: “This is the happiest day of my life.” heels – John Drennan of the Independent is convinced that ‘.. 0DUJRW&RRJDQWKH¿UVWLQFXPEHQW/DORU&KLHIWDLQ WKHRQJRLQJ¿VFDOLOOLWHUDF\¶RIWKH,ULVK'HSDUWPHQWRI)LQDQFH ever to visit Australia, was born in Killeaney, near DVUHYHDOHGLQ)LQH*DHO¶V¿UVWEXGJHWZLOOFRPSOHWHO\VW\PLH Shanahoe in County Laois. Her grandmother was Sarah Ireland’s recovery. Lalor, the daughter Patrick Lalor, a brother of Eureka’s The continuing need to service an enormous debt is the Peter Lalor. Unfortunately because all the early records main drag on Irish economic growth. Ireland’s national debt were destroyed in Ireland, Margot knows very little is over 100% of gross domestic production, far above the 60% about Patrick but is passionate about the history of required by the European Stability and Growth Pact. Only Italy James Fintan Lalor and the events of Eureka. DQG *UHHFH KDYH KLJKHU GHEW ¿JXUHV7KH LQWHUHVW UDWH RQ WKH ‘I always wanted to come to Australia and fol- bailout package is 5% – markedly above the forecast growth low Peter Lalor’s footsteps to Eureka. Two days after rate of about 1% – so the government’s ability to contain debt is being elected chieftain I made my travel arrangements dubious. The interest rate will probably be cut, accompanied by for Australia,’ Margot said. ‘Ballarat has everything ‘haircuts’ on some of the debt, if only to prevent the country’s – it is just so beautiful. I had to stop and pause in the entire income going on servicing debts. &RPPHPRUDWLYH&LUFOHDQGUHÀHFWRQWKHKLVWRU\FUH /LWWOHMREFUHDWLRQLVH[SHFWHGLQWKHORQJHUWHUP   ated there.’ Migration and early retirement have already reduced the Irish Ballarat was so beautiful that Margot spent six labour force by 100,000 people; not a good long term outlook. days there and met a number of people involved in the Despite the day to day economic uncertainty, the search for Eureka movement. scapegoats continues and the conclusions are as mixed as the She also visited the Loreto Sisters Mary’s Mount predictions for the future. Enda Kenny let the cat out of the bag Convent where Peter Lalor’s granddaughter, Dorothy at last week’s Davos economic summit saying that the Irish /DORU 0RWKHU 0DGHOHLQH  ZDV D QXQ DQG SURPLQHQW bubble had burst because ‘..people went mad with borrowing.’ music teacher and composer. He continued ‘The extent of personal credit, personal wealth ‘I stood at the statue in Ballarat of the man with the created on credit, was done between people and banks – a one arm – the man I am so proud of,’ Margot continued. system that spawned greed to a point where this went out of In Melbourne she laid a wreath on the Lalor grave control completely with a spectacular crash.’ These comments at the Melbourne General Cemetery and placed three have led to uproar because they contradicted Kenny’s televised small pebbles on the grave from the Well of St Fintan speech last December assuring viewers that the crash was ‘.. &RXQW\ /DRLV  D ORFDO VKULQH SUREDEO\ YLVLWHG PDQ\ not your fault.’ Seeking support for an austerity budget, he was times by Peter and James Fintan as children. then content to blame the whole mess on the builders, specula- Speaking about the economic situation in Ireland the tors and bankers. chieftain said that after the Celtic Tiger came, ran wild Debate continues on who was really to blame, but a loan with money and produced so much greed, the ordinary requires two parties; a borrower as well as a lender, not to people are now left to pay for the massive bail out. mention successive Fianna Fáil governments spending money ‘They are faced with a broken economy that they like water and setting the scene for the good times to roll. Few did not cause. People struggle to live. There is little voices were raised shouting ‘Stop!’ while Bertie Ahern created employment and too many are immigrating to Australia the most generous social welfare system in Europe. In his cur- and Canada. The ordinary people are suffering yet UHQWMREDVSROLWLFLDQ.HQQ\PD\¿QGWKDWVSHDNLQJWKHWUXWK again. If James Fintan Lalor was alive today he would is not an admired attribute, but it does not mean what he said be angry about the injustice being suffered by the Irish is wrong. People probably have more right to be outraged with people,’ she said. what the banks did after the boom than what they did before it At home Margot is a keen walker, historian and happened. Despite receiving millions of taxpayer dollars, Irish ORYHURIFODVVLFDOPXVLF6KHRUJDQLVHGWKH¿UVWHYHU EDQNVFRQWLQXHWRLQIXULDWHWKHLUFXVWRPHUV WD[SD\HUVPRVWO\  performance of Handel’s Messiah in St Fintan’s E\UHIXVLQJWROHQGWRVPDOODQGPHGLXP¿UPVDQGFKDUJLQJKLJK Church Mountrath. fees for small overdraws. She recalls going to the parish church at Raheen, near There’s certainly no sense of a people pulling together to get Tinakill, the Lalor homestead, for the Corpus Christi WKHPVHOYHVRXWRIWKHDSSDOOLQJHFRQRPLFGLI¿FXOWLHVWKH\¿QG Procession with her mum and dad in a trap pulled by themselves in. a pony. Compiled from: guardian.co.uk, The Independent, www. Peter Phips accountancy.ireland Peter is a descendant of Peter Lalor and a regular Felicity Allen, contributor to Tinteán Deputy Editor, Tinteán

Tinteán March 2012 5 News New Irish Ambassador of more resources to prosecutors and with many people commenting, ‘we loved The new Irish ambassador, Noel White, investigators and whether or not people the dancing, it was fun’. hails from Carlow. He has a law degree are ready for a solution outside the pros- Other highlights from the week from Trinity College, Dublin and quali- ecutorial system. McGrory believes that included the Op Shop Ball at Crossley and ¿HGDVDEDUULVWHUEHIRUHHPEDUNLQJRQD the will to confront the issues is lacking the Concert with the Simon Bradley Trio distinguished career in the Department of at the moment because of “.. the enormity 6FRWWLVK WRXULQJ JURXS  DQG Six At The Foreign Affairs. of the decisions that have to be taken.” Crossroads (Paddy O’Neill AwardJURXS  Mr White formerly served in Brussels Compiled from: The Irish Times 2.2.12 Brian Mooney’s Art Exhibition Launch, and was one of the chief organisers of the Fiona McAlinden’s Irish Breadmaking state visits to Ireland by Britain’s Queen Ireland loses another Class, The Zombie Movie by Ray and Lewis (OL]DEHWK DQG 8QLWHG 6WDWHV SUHVLGHQW generation Argall with the Lake School Youth, Vince Barack Obama in May 2011 Lack of jobs in Ireland is once more lead- Brophy’s Pub Band, and the Spud Poets’ He is married to Nessa Delaney and ing to the loss of an entire generation of Night featuring the launch of Bill Clohesy’s the couple have three children. As well as young workers. Rates of Irish settlement poems, Just A Bit of Craic2QFHWKHEUHH]H being Ambassador to Australia, Mr. White in Australia have been rising steadily since from the South West kicked in and the will also be responsible for diplomatic :KLOHZHEHQH¿WIURPWKHLQÀRZ weather cooled, the sessions under the relations with New Zealand, Fiji, the of highly educated skilled migrants, veranda at Mickey Bourke’s Pub took off, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Ireland is once again becoming a land of and every night featured great sessions led Compiled from the Carlow Nationalist old people. In contrast, Greek settlement E\ 3DGG\ )LW]JHUDOG DFFRUGLRQ  7RPP\ has remained steady. Philomena Murray, &DUW\ '$'*$' JXLWDU  -DFN %UHQQDQ Truth and reconciliation – can an expert on Europe at the University XLOOHDQQ SLSHV  1LFN\ .UDPHU ¿GGOH  you have both? of Melbourne said that, unlike Greece, 0DULD )RUGH YRFDOV  7KH Songwriters’ Barra McGrory, Northern Ireland’s direc- ,UHODQG KDG D KLJKO\ HI¿FLHQW HFRQRP\ ConcertRQWKH¿QDOQLJKWVKRZFDVHGHLJK tor of public prosecutions, has joined in and a good education system before the teen songwriters including a song by Katy the long-running debate on how to deal crash. The change people experienced in $GGLV DERXWUDLVLQJKHUVRQ WKDWKDGWKH with the legacy of the Troubles. Some moving suddenly from living in a coun- audience in tears. The Big Tune this year victims want prosecutions in unsolved try of high productivity to one of low was Waltzing Matilda, chosen to coincide murders and others are asking how and employment was very shocking for them with the release of songwriting tutor, why loved ones died. Before becoming and motivated many to leave. Dennis O’Keeffe’s book on the subject in director of public prosecutions, McGrory Compiled from: The Age 23.1.12 April, and the photo below was taken just ZDVDKLJKSUR¿OHGHIHQFHODZ\HUDQGWKH DIWHUWKH¿QDOFKRUXVThe Mogyum Award son of Paddy McGrory who represented 13th Lake School: it was fun! ZHQW WR 3HWHU 'DII\ *XLWDU %DVLFV WXWRU  the families of the three unarmed IRA About 180 students and their families and Rachel Donovan who turned back members shot dead by security forces in GHVFHQGHG RQ .RURLW IRU WKH th Lake from Panmure to look for Ewen Baker Gibraltar. McGrory himself represented 6FKRRO9HU\KRWZHDWKHURQWKH¿UVWWZR ¿GGOH WXWRU  PLVWDNHQO\ EHOLHYHG WR KDYH the family of sectarian murder victim days may have deterred some people from had car troubles in the heat! Robert Hamill, which raised questions of making the trip and numbers were slightly Quote of the week: ‘If you are looking wrongdoing by the security forces. down on 2011, although the smooth run- for love, come to our slow sessions.’ Mark He has argued strongly to the Northern ning of the event continued where it left McDonnell. Mark and Lisa McDonnell’s Ireland human rights watchdog that the off the previous year. The space in the slow sessions at the Commercial Hotel and past must be dealt with. He believes program for socialising boosted the time the Kirkstall Hotel attracted big crowds to that society needs to confront the past available for dancing and the ceilidh danc- their three sessions during the week! even though this may require allocation ing was a highlight of this year’s event Felix Meagher

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6 Tinteán March 2012 Bolg an tSoláthair/ Odds & Ends

Centenary of Molly O’Donnell: Mary’s for the saint’s feast day. Again, craft worker, organiser & mother ZHZRXOG¿QGKHUHQJDJHGRQEDQQHUHWWHV On Friday 9 December 2011 my wife with Gaelic mottoes.’ Mary Doyle and I, together with a group of her family and friends, held a low-key but Missing murals heartfelt commemoration of the centenary A set of murals painted by John Hennessy, of the death of Molly O’Donnell née Mary installed in her memory in the chapel Anne Bruen, a remarkable leader of the of the Irish saints at St Mary’s West Irish Australian community in Victoria. Melbourne, have since been covered Molly’s Irish-born parents, Peter Bruen over. The paintings illustrated incidents and Catherine Taylor, lived in Faraday in the lives of Saints Patrick, Brigid and Mary’s Catholic Church, West Melbourne. Street, Carlton, and for some years had a Columcille. Co-Adjutor archbishop Then we adjourned for a meal at the Celtic hotel in Swanston Street opposite the old Daniel Mannix was among those present Club. Molly’s clan were represented by Queen Victoria hospital. For a short time at the unveiling of the murals in December Brennans, Moyles, Heriots, Coles, Rosses, WKH\WULHGWKHLUOXFNRQWKH2WDJRJROG¿HOGV  0RUJDQ -DJHXUV UHDG D PHVVDJH O’Donnells, Wilsons and Riccis with apol- in New Zealand where Molly was born, the from William Redmond on behalf of ogies from Neeshams, Woods, and more fourth of ten children. While Molly was the Irish Parliamentary Party. A number of the O’Donnells. The friends present still a baby they came back to Melbourne. of her friends of other faiths joined her included the 2012 Nicholas O’Donnell fel- She excelled at school, trained as a family and Catholic friends for the event. low, Dr Nicholas Wolf from Virginia, USA. singer, learned many craft skills, was A plaque saying that ‘in her memory the We were privileged to join in honouring an Irish-speaker and important in the chapel has been dedicated by the Irish 0ROO\2¶'RQQHOOD¿QH,ULVK$XVWUDOLDQ Irish-language revival movement, as Nationalists of Melbourne’ remains at the well as being a key organiser of Home side of the chapel. Courtship and marriage: Rule meetings, not to mention being a The Advocate report of her funeral says: extracts from Nicholas wife and mother. A glimpse of her role ‘She was admittedly one of the best expo- O’Donnell’s autobiography in Melbourne comes from knowing that nents of Irish music in the State, and trained About June 1880 I made the acquaintance she was the inaugural President of the her daughter, Miss Sheila O’Donnell, and of the girl whom I afterwards married. past pupils’ association of the Academy her three sons, Nicholas, Leo, and Manus, Jack McGlynn brought me to Bruens’ RI0DU\,PPDFXODWH)LW]UR\DVHFRQGDU\ to emulate her love for Ireland’s native in Faraday St Carlton on the evening of school staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. PXVLF0LVV2¶'RQQHOOQRZZRUWKLO\¿OOV the day that Ned Kelly was captured at ,Q  VKH PDUULHG 1LFKRODV her mother’s place on the public platform, Glenrowan and there I was introduced O’Donnell, a Bullengarook-born doctor, and has rendered good service to many a to the mother, father and daughter. The soon to become one of Australia’s best Catholic and National entertainment. … boys of the family I had already met at St known Gaelic scholars and community ‘The church and grounds were thronged Patricks College. … OHDGHUV 7KH\ KDG QLQH FKLOGUHQ ¿YH RI with people, whilst numerous vehicles Some time probably about 1882 I began whom died as babies. were ranged along the roadside for a con- to pay attention to a young lady also who Throughout 1911 Molly and her hus- siderable distance away. Mr CJ Stebbing lived in Faraday St Carlton, Miss Bruen, band Nicholas O’Donnell lived with the marshalled a large number of the men of who afterwards became my wife. Probably knowledge that she had a fatal illness. the parish in processional order, who were DERXW  P\ YLVLWV WR WKDW KRVSLWDEOH Nonetheless, they both laboured hard in IROORZHG E\ D ¿QH ERG\ RI WKH SUHVHQW home became more frequent and regular. organising a successful tour of Australia and past pupils of the North Melbourne My dearest girl Miss Bruen, or Molly as in May by Home Rule delegates Richard Christian Brothers’ college, in charge of I now came to call her, went away for a +D]HOWRQ :LOOLDP 5HGPRQG DQG -7 the Superior, Brother Geoghegan, and trip to Gippsland with FC Mason MLA Donovan. Some 100 letters and 61 meet- his assistant Brothers. After these came and his wife Josephine O’Brien and others ings were involved. She died at home on the clergy, the hearse and the mourning on a concert tour for RC Church purposes 'HFHPEHUDJHG+HU\RXQJHVWFKLOG coaches, and about one hundred vehicles.’ sometime in the winter of this year. They Manus, was 11. The Advocate gives a list of prominent were away over a fortnight. I corresponded An Advocate obituary said in part: people present: a bishop, some members with Molly while she was away. ‘Born of a patriotic Roscommon father of parliament, a future premier, represen- So these years passed away on hard study, and a Galway mother, Mrs O’Donnell tatives of many community organisations. VRPHMROOL¿FDWLRQDQGWKHFRQVWDQWVRFLHW\ inherited many of the characteristic vir- ‘As an evidence of the widespread of my only Molly till the end of the year tues of the Gael. She loved the traditions sympathy felt for Dr O’Donnell, no less ZKHQ,SDVVHGP\¿IWK\HDUWULXPSKDQWO\ of Ireland’s golden age. Her Celtic cos- than three hundred telegrams and let- DQG EHFDPH D OHJDOO\ TXDOL¿HG PHGLFDO tume sets at various balls and socials were ters were received from all parts of the man entitled to the degrees of Bachelor always unique and much admired. Her Commonwealth and abroad.’ of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. VWDOOVDWPDQ\ED]DDUVSRUWUD\HGWKHVDPH On 9 December 2011 we visited three 0\ ¿DQFpH DQG , QRZ GHFLGHG WR FURVV national love for Celtic art and ornament. important sites, her grave in Melbourne the Rubicon and get married, with that At one time she would be constructing an General Cemetery, her former home in contempt for the future and the world that arch with a prayer in the Gaelic as a votive Victoria Street, North Melbourne, and only lovers feel. offering to the statue of St Patrick in St the chapel dedicated to her memory in St Val Noone

Tinteán March 2012  Miscellany visits Glasnevin Cemetary

Glasnevin Cemetery in North County Dublin, is a beautiful place, rivalling in reputation Arlington in Washington DC or Pere La Chaise in Paris. Recently restored, it has an impressive new Visitor’s Centre which houses the Glasnevin Museum, the ZRUOG¶V¿UVWFHPHWHU\PXVHXP ,WLVWKH¿QDOUHVWLQJSODFHIRUKXQGUHGVZKRGLHGGXULQJWKH Easter Rising, when, in the words of WB Yeats ‘A terrible beauty is born’, amongst them Roger Casement, the only executed 1916 leader buried in Glasnevin. ,Q WKH FRPSDQ\ RI D  PLOOLRQ RUGLQDU\ SHRSOH RI Dublin, 800,000 in unmarked graves, lie some of Ireland’s PRVW IDPRXV DQG LOOXVWULRXV FLWL]HQV ± SROLWLFLDQV SRHWV and playwrights. Amongst them, are Presidents of Ireland, Lord Mayors and archbishops of Dublin, literary men, the great railway–builder and founder of the National Gallery :LOOLDP'DUJDQ&RXQWHVV0DUNLHYLF]3HDGHU.HDUQH\ZKR composed the National Anthem and Irelands only honorary FLWL]HQ$OIUHG&KHVWHU%HDWW\ Daniel O’Connell. The O’Connell Monument, marks the grave of Daniel O’Connell. (It was O’Connell who set up The Dublin Cemeteries Committee in 1828 to provide a service irrespective RIUHOLJLRQ7KH¿UVWEXULDOLQ*ODVQHYLQWRRNSODFHLQ %RUQLQKHZDVFDOOHGWRWKHEDULQ(VVHQWLDOO\ a social reformer he believed in working for reform by non- violent means. Writing in The Nation QHZVSDSHULQKHVDLG ‘The principle of my political life ... is, that all ameliorations and improvements in political institutions can be obtained by persevering in a perfectly peaceable and legal course, and cannot be obtained by forcible means…’ He campaigned for Catholic Emancipation and Repeal of the Union between Ireland and Great Britain. Known as The /LEHUDWRUDQG7KH(PDQFLSDWRUKHGLHGLQLQ*HQRD,WDO\ DJHG+LVKHDUWZDVEXULHGLQ5RPHDQGWKHUHPDLQGHURIKLV body in Glasnevin according to his wishes. Michael Collins was born 16 October 1890, and shot dead 22 $XJXVWDJHG$QHVWLPDWHGSHRSOHOLQHGWKH streets of Dublin as the funeral procession wound its way to The O’Connell Monument Photo Joseph Murphy Glasnevin Cemetery. The Irish Independent reported on ‘the greatest pageant of sorrow ever seen in Dublin: a cortege three miles long’ Michael Collins fought in the GPO during the 1916 Rising. He was imprisoned and on his release in December 1916 he became prominent in Sinn Féin and the Volunteer movement as well as a member of the Supreme Council of the IR. In the 1918 General election, he was elected for Cork South and for Tyrone. He was appointed Minister for Home Affairs and, in April 1919, Minister for Finance. Collins was among the Irish delegation to negotiate the Treaty, authorised, and later rejected, by de Valera. He reluctantly signed the treaty on 6 December 1921. The signing of the Treaty triggered a bitter and hugely divi- sive Civil War. On 20 August 1922 he was killed visiting troops in Cork, when his convoy was ambushed at Béal na mBláth. Eamon de Valera. Revolutionary, Politician, President of ,UHODQG%RUQLQ1HZ

8 Tinteán March 2012 Michael Collins’ coffi n enters Glasnevin Cemetery Image courtesy National Library of Ireland

+H MRLQHG WKH ,ULVK 9ROXQWHHUV LQ . In 1916, he born in Co Wicklow. Her aunt was the mother of the Wicklow commanded Boland’s Mills and was sentenced to death, a rebel Michael Dwyer. In 1800 Anne became Robert Emmet’s sentence which was later commuted to life imprisonment. housekeeper. As he became immersed in the planning of an 5HOHDVHGIURPSULVRQLQKHZDVHOHFWHG6LQQ)pLQ03 uprising, she acted as his adviser, messenger and agent. After for East Clare. the collapse of the uprising, she was arrested and incarcer- After the defeat of the Anti-Treaty forces in the Civil war, DWHGLQ.LOPDLQKDP*RDO(IÀXHQWÀRZHGSDVWWKHGRRURI he founded the Fianna Fáil party in 1926 and became the her narrow cell as she lay on damp straw on the wet earth 5HSXEOLF¶V¿UVW7DRLVHDFKLQ2Q-XQHKHZDV ÀRRU 6RUHV RQ KHU OHJV EHFDPH LQIHFWHG DQG WKH LQIDPRXV inaugurated as President of Ireland and remained in the job Dr Edward Trevor lanced the swellings then simply left her IRUIRXUWHHQ\HDUV(DPRQGH9DOHUDGLHGRQ$XJXVW there in that stinking cell. Despite this brutality and bribery ‘The Resurrectionists’ were grave robbers of 19th century of £500, a substantial sum of money, Anne Devlin refused to Dublin who dispatched bodies overseas in casks labelled become an informer. She was released in 1806. She married a ‘Irish Cheese’. Working from behind the headstones they man named Campbell and for a few years she knew peace and ZRXOGSULVHDFRI¿QRSHQZRUNDKRRNDURXQGWKHQHFNDQG ORYH:KHQ&DPSEHOOGLHGLQVKHDJDLQIRXJKWKXQJHU pull the corpse to the surface. The soil would then be replaced want and poverty until her death on 18 September 1851, aged and the ‘exhumed’ bodies put in sacks and carted off. \HDUV+HUKHDGVWRQHVWDWHV The grave-robbing story is told in vivid detail in the City 7RWKHPHPRU\RI$QQH'HYOLQ &DPSEHOO of the Dead located below ground in the basement of the The faithful servant of Robert Emmet, Glasnevin Museum. Who possessed some rare and noble qualities ,UHODQG¶V ¿UVW UHYROXWLRQDU\ ZRPDQ ±$QQH 'HYOLQ was Who lived in obscurity and poverty, and so died.

Tinteán March 2012 9 Charles Stewart Parnell Summer’s Evening by Philip Ryan The Angel’s Plot Image courtesy Glasnevin Trust Image courtesy Glasnevin Trust Photo Joseph Murphy

&RQVWDQFH0DUNLHYLF]±5HYROXWLRQDU\Born in London on 7KH$QJHO¶V 3ORW ± I did not die young. An inspiring poem )HEUXDU\VKHZDVHGXFDWHGE\DJRYHUQHVVDW/LVVDGHOO by Christy Kenneally celebrates the brief lives of the young Co Sligo and later at the Slade School of Art London. In Paris, children; some who died at birth, who are interred in the Angel’s ZKLOHVWXG\LQJSDLQWLQJVKHPDUULHG&RXQW&DVLPLU0DUNLHYLF] plot in the cemetery. They settled in Dublin. I did not die young Enntering politics in 1908 she joined Sinn Féin and Inghinidhe I lived my span of life na hÉireann. During the Rising she served at the College of Within your body Surgeons and was condemned to death for her involvement. And with your love. This sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Released in There are many VKHEHFDPHWKH¿UVWZRPDQWREHHOHFWHGWRWKH%ULWLVK Who have lived long lives Parliament in 1920. In accordance with Sinn Féin policy she And not been loved as me. refused to take her seat. She was Minister for Labour in the Then speak my name ¿UVW'iLOeLUHDQQ2IWHQRQWKHUXQVKHVHUYHGWZRMDLOVHQ And number me among your family. tences in Dublin and Cork. She opposed the Treaty and in 1922 If you would honour me toured America to enlist support for the Anti-Treaty cause. Then strive to live in love, Defeated in the General Election of 1922 she was returned For in that love I live. DJDLQLQ$XJXVW6KHZDVDUUHVWHGLQDQGZHQWRQ Never, ever doubt hunger strike. That we will meet again. She joined Fianna Fáil in 1926 and died in Dublin on 15 Until that happy day -XO\ I will grow with God, 7KH8QFURZQHG.LQJRI,UHODQG±&KDUOHV6WHZDUW3DUQHOO And wait for you. – Christy Kenneally ±Parnell’s funeral on 10 October 1891 was the largest ever seen &HOWLF0RWLIVThroughout the cemetery the use of Celtic motifs, at Glasnevin Cemetery. James Stewart Parnell enjoyed a suc- particularly the Celtic Cross as a memorial is notable. James FHVVIXODQGLQÀXHQWLDOSROLWLFDOFDUHHU+HZRUNHGIRUWKHWZLQ Pearse, the father of Patrick Pearse was a Celtic Cross designer. goals of Home Rule and the rights of tenants to their land. He Miscellany was surprised and delighted by the sheer breath was cited, in1890, in a divorce case involving his long-time and scope of what Glasnevin – Ireland’s Necropolis has to offer. lover Kitty O’Shea which ended his political career and he was This tiny selection gives just a glimpse of the vast canvas of Irish deposed as leader of his Parliamentary Party. History available to the visitor. Parnell spent his last year trying to garner political support. 6LQDEKIXLOJRIyLOOy6KHRVDPKÏ0XUFK~6OiQDJDLEKJR He died suddenly on 6 October1891 in Brighton at the age of léir. IRUW\¿YHMXVW¿YHPRQWKVDIWHUKHPDUULHG.LWW\2¶6KHD Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone. +LVFRI¿QDUULYHGLQ'~Q/DRJKDLUHZKHUHYDVWFURZGVZHUH Joseph Murphy, Dublin JDWKHUHG7KRXVDQGVRIPRXUQHUVOLQHGWKHVWUHHWVDVWKHFRI¿Q Sources: Glasnevin – Ireland’s Necropolis by Shane Mac PDGHLWVZD\WR&LW\+DOO7KHFRI¿QZDVIROORZHGE\ Thomais to whom special thanks is due for permission to people to Glasnevin where he was buried, as was his wish, with reproduce many of the photographs accompanying Miscellany. the ‘the common men and women of Ireland’ Thanks also to Glasnevin Museum, a registered charity whose Mourners took sprigs of ivy from the cemetery walls to SUR¿WVVXSSRUWWKHXSNHHSRI*ODVQHYLQ7KHERRNIreland’s wear as buttonholes, giving rise to the denoting of Parnell’s Necropolis, (excellent value) can be purchased by going to the Remembrance Day as Ivy day. website www.glasnevinmuseum.ie

10 Tinteán March 2012 Kickstarting a music collection

When CDs appeared on the scene everyone who ever sang in the shower. acts in there as well as a slew of novelty around late 1982 they caused a sensation For a different take on contemporary records. One of my favourites was the because of the improved sound quality music history look out for the US set Barron Knights taking off the Bachelors over tape and vinyl. Buyers were keen Rock and roll Piano, which mainly dates LQ WKHLU  KLW Call Up The Groups. but immediately faced a dilemma. Do IURPWKHPLGWRODWH¿IWLHV The following year saw a watershed you replace all your old material with The next highest number you might in public tastes. See My Friend by the these new fangled shiny things and will think of is ten discs in a box and a good .LQNV RSHQHG XS QHZ KRUL]RQV EHLQJ your old favourites even be available? example of this is 200 Jukebox Hits. But WKH¿UVWFKDUWKLWGHDOLQJZLWKVDPHVH[ The answer to both questions is now his- a little problem has emerged. The small relationships. Writer Ray Davies later tory but the record companies were also print on the packaging says the vast GRZQSOD\HGWKHVLJQL¿FDQFHRIZKDWKH looking to the future for more ways to majority of the tracks have been ‘re- had composed but the public rewarded separate you from your money. It wasn’t recorded’. Same singer, same song but Ray with a huge hit. Can you believe it long before double CDs appeared, at another version. This is generally done was almost 50 years ago? ¿UVW MXVW WHQWDWLYH UHLVVXHV RI HDUOLHU so that someone somewhere can get a Moving beyond about 100 discs the big-selling double albums like Electric bigger cut of the royalties and the musi- numbers involved start to become astro- Ladyland or the White Album, but soon FDOUHVXOWVDUHGH¿QLWHO\WKHSRRUHUIRULW nomical so you have to rely on down- totally new compilations like Molten It doesn’t have to be this way. Motown loads and feed them straight to your iPod Gold, the anthology of Free. Booklets records issued a series of 12 vinyl rather than even think about individual evolved too and became mini-books DOEXPV EHWZHHQ  DQG  FDOOHG CDs. There is a very useful set available with proper binding instead of stapling Motown Chartbusters. They remain that would kick start any music collec- and the overall value for money soared. hugely popular with the entire set, using tion. It contains all the number ones to ,WZDVGH¿QLWHO\DJRRGWLPHIRUEX\HUV date for the UK, USA, Australia and Triple CD boxed sets appeared by the NZ. The Australian section was mined late 80’s for classical music and opera, but pretty heavily for the soundtrack of also for an increasing number of popular All of these are WKH¶VHUD79PLQLVHULHVDERXW.HUU\ releases. Around this time I splurged and Packer and Ita Buttrose. The whole set bought The Messiah and Carmen among goldmines for ZHLJKVLQDWDURXQGWUDFNV%HLQJ others, and enjoyed the booklets almost collectors looking comprised solely of number ones there as much as the music. )RXUDQG¿YH&' is a fair amount of duplication across the sets arrived in due course and allowed for obscure tracks different countries. Alternatively, the record companies to present a range of Billboard Top 100 Charts, at a healthy linked material. Anthologies across four  RGG WUDFNV UDQJHV IURP  WR CDs were an early favourite with such 2011. It avoids the duplication problem diverse acts as%XIIDOR6SULQJ¿HOG, Peter the original recordings, still available as but has a lot of stuff you probably never Paul and Mary and also The Mamas and a 12 disc box. heard before. the Papas on offer. Even our very own By now the typical boxed set resem- So where’s a good place to start? Don’t Thin Lizzy can be found in a four disc bles a shoe box while, predictably, all mention this in polite company but you boxed set which includes the tracks from sorts of companies are cashing in. Time- could try the much maligned Eurovision the New Day EP. 0RYLQJXSWR¿YHGLVFV Life are not renowned as big players Song Contest, now in its 56th year and we encounter more specialist subjects in the music business but what they do still moving steadily eastward. This is such as Acoustic Guitar Highlights. All know is how to market a package. They proving an ongoing challenge to Terry of these are goldmines for collectors H[FHOOHGWKHPVHOYHVZLWKWKHGLVFVHW Wogan’s grasp of geography but does looking for obscure tracks. Spirit of the Sixties. It was advertised have its compensations. As well as all So where to next? Six disc sets came ZLGHO\RQGD\WLPH79DQGLQPDJD]LQHV the Irish entries and of course the various and went so take a deep breath and count and spawned a host of similar titles. The ,ULVK DUWLVWV DQG HYHQ RQH $XVWUDOLDQ  to eight. Owl Records in Dublin put out theme is obvious but the implementation who represented the UK, you see how an eight CD set called The Celts which has been well thought through. If you popular music has shifted over time and was reviewed on these pages. Some say prefer a broader sweep of how music has how quickly fads come and go. it doesn’t count as a truly original set GHYHORSHGKDYHDORRNLQVWHDGDWWKH 7ULYLD WLPH ± ZKR ZDV WKH ¿UVW because each disc was previously avail- CD set Hit History, covering each decade Australian artist to have a hit record in able separately, so it’s more of a market- IURPWKH¿IWLHVWRWKHQLQHWLHVZLWKHLJKW the UK? – and it wasn’t Rolf Harris or ing ploy but judge for yourself. Our old discs per era. )UDQN,¿HOGDOWKRXJKERWKRIWKHPZHUH pal Cliff has also entered the fray with We are now approaching Imelda heavily promoted as hailing from ‘the an eight CD set entitled And They Said It Marcos territory because you’ll need land down under’. Some clues, she was Wouldn’t Last. As a set it is well thought at least four shoe boxes for the mam- ZDV IURP 0HOERXUQH SOD\HG WKH ]LWKHU RXW DQG ZRUNV TXLWH ZHOO$Q XQRI¿FLDO moth 100 CD set British Top 30 Charts and will reach the ripe old age of 82 in eight disc bootleg series also exists of (63-68). The entire package boasts over October this year. him performing duets with just about 1,500 tracks. There are quite a few Irish Stuart Traill

Tinteán March 2012 11 Links in a Chain: The Great Famine, The Orphan Girls and The Rock Commemoration Day, Famine Rock, Burgoyne Reserve, Williamstown 20/11/2011

I’ll start with a sensational headline: ‘Commemoration Day also to the Williamstown Historical Society. 2011 at Famine Rock was a triumph!’ says Peter Kiernan, Vice We had a wonderful cast of guest performers: musicians, President of the Australian Irish Heritage Network, and member readers and historians told the Girls’ story against the bigger of the original 1998 Famine Rock Committee. It expresses our picture of mourning for the death and dispossession of the Irish exuberant happiness at a moving ceremony to honour Famine at this time. Our admiration is heartfelt for those who survived Orphan Girls. the workhouses and their journeys. Today, according to the Earl Grey’s scheme began four years after the beginning of $XVWUDOLDQ FHQFXV UHFRUGV DERXW  RI SHRSOH FRXQW WKHLU the Great Famine. It was a better organised and supervised effort origins as Irish. than what prevailed for migrants to the United States in the Melbourne historian Dr Val Noone was our MC. He paid µFRI¿QVKLSV¶%HWZHHQDQGIRXUWKRXVDQGJLUOVZHUH tribute to the Spirit of the Land, and to the First People for their sent to Australia, and over seventeen hundred of them arrived stewardship, in a spirit of reconciliation and solidarity. The in Hobson’s Bay, some being sent on to Geelong and Portland. ceremony began and ended with Leo Kelly’s uilleann pipes; $ERXW  SHRSOH JDWKHUHG DW )DPLQH 5RFN LQFOXGLQJ he has been piping for Famine Rock since 1999. We heard his many locals, an indication that awareness is growing of this ODPHQWVDVRXUDQFHVWRUVZRXOGKDYHKHDUGWKHPXQDPSOL¿HG historical event. It demonstrates our pity for the suffering of and haunting. those poor refugee souls their plight as relevant today as ever. I read the poem by James Wallace, ‘Welcome to Erin’s It also demonstrates the groundswell of interest people have Youthful Daughters’, headmaster of St Mary’s in Williamstown, in discovering the real stories of their forebears. After placing and a steadfast supporter of the Orphan Girls. Janet Kelly sang ÀRZHUVDWWKHIRRWRI7KH5RFNLWZDVJUHDWWRLQDXJXUDWHD XQDFFRPSDQLHG µ7KH 'DZQLQJ RI WKH 'D\¶ D th Century picnic with the ‘coffee cart’ in attendance. A highlight was the Irish air. Next, Mary Kenneally, actor, Irish scholar, read two discovery by Val Noone of a connection between three Eliza poems, one of them Brendan Kennelly’s ‘The Dark Fathers’. It Caroline cousins seated coincidentally together – introduc- was a chilling account of husband and wife victims of the Great tions all round. Especial thanks to Margie Brophy and her cur- Famine united in death. Mary reads this poem annually because ried eggs, and the marvellous photographs from Vince Brophy, it explains the horror, the shame and the grief-stricken silence Sean Kenan and Trevor Code. fallen on Ireland for generations. Mayor Michael Raffoul spoke well for us, opening with a 6HDQ.HQDQOLYHO\¿GGOHSOD\HUDQGWHDFKHUDQG3KLO&OHDU\ salute to the Kulin Nation who had to make way for all of us, DFWLYLVWDQGSROLWLFLDQPRYHGIURPODPHQWWRIDVWÀ\LQJERZ as incoming immigrants. We were also very happy to welcome ing, duetting with Irish airs. Peter Kiernan read chilling tales again Councillor Altair, and the ex-Mayor, Brad Matheson. and from ships’ logs, written by those who had traversed the oceanic WRWKDQN+D]HO)LQQLHDQGWKH¿YHOLEUDULHV¶VXSSRUW7KDQNV wilderness and the might of the Roaring Forties. Local Aydin

12 Tinteán March 2012 Clockwise from left: Commemoration Day; Kathleen Kiernan and Aindrias de Staic; Dr Val Noone and Mary Kenneally; the crowd at Burgoyne Reserve, Williamstown Photos by Sean Kenan

$EGXOODKKXVEDQGRIDGHVFHQGDQWPDGHDGHEXWKHUHZLWKÀXWH playing. Kathleen Kiernan played tin whistle with Aindrias de Staic’s violin. Dr Noone invited descendants of Orphan Girls to identify themselves and their ships. An always popular and instructive segment, with snippets of stories begging for elaboration, it also highlights how many of these Melbourne, and even Adelaide and Sydney, ships were represented. The Committee has re-published 1998’s booklet, Melbourne and the Irish Famine, edited by Dr Noone, available from me or the Williamstown Historical Society. Debra Vaughan is a member of the Australian Irish Heritage Network. Researcher, writer and genealogist, she is a descen- dant of an Irish Famine Orphan, and a promoter and organiser of Commemoration Day.

Tinteán March 2012  Ceathracha Bliain Faoi THE IRISH Bhláth Sa Tír Thíos Faoi PROGRAM Bearnaí Ó Doibhlin and his family recently organised a party to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of their migration to Australia, an occasion which led him to refl ect on the journey he and his family made to the other side of the world in January 1972.

Is cuimhin liom go soiléir an oíche sin, Qantas. Thuirling muid in Amstardam 'pDUGDRLQ  (DQiLU  D G¶IKiJ na hÍsiltíre, Vín na hOstaire, Tehran PXLGVOiQDUiUEKIyGG~FKDLVDUDQJFp na hIaráine, Deilí Nua na hIndia, Hong i mBéal Feirste chun aghaidh a thabhairt Cong na Síne agus Mainile na nOileán Éistigí ar an Astráil. Tá áit bhrónach faoi leith i Filipíneach. Faoi dheireadh thiar thall, go gcroí gach Éireannaigh don ché agus an luath ar an Domhnach, 16 Eanáir, bhain bád bán á fhágáil. muid Sydney na hAstráile amach. Doimhneacht an gheimhridh a bhí ann Bhí muid go léir scriosta mar gheall ar agus ár ngaolta is ár gcairde cruinnithe thuirse aerthurais. Bhí muid ag bárcadh RADIO 4EBFM thart ar an gceathrar againn ag bun an allais agus sinn gléasta in éadaí a bhí chloird. Dár ndóigh bhí an díle ag titim RLUL~QDFKGRQJKHLPKUHDGKLQeLULQQIDG anuas orainn. Bhí seacht mbliana agus is bhí orainn seasamh sa scuaine fhada ¿FKHEDLQWHDPDFKDJDPDJXVDJ$QJHOD san aerfort. mo bhean chéile, ach ní raibh ár n-iníona- Ní raibh ár gcuid taistil i gcrích fós cha beaga, Marcia agus Berenice, ach mar go raibh orainn tacsaí a thógáil trasna EHDJQDFK VHDFKW PEOLDQD DJXV F~LJ EOL na cathrach go hóstallán inimirceach. Saturdays: ana d’aois faoi seach. Villawood! Ar a laghad ní raibh aon sre- Ag sileadh na ndeor ach go háirithe DQJUiV~LUWLPSHDOODLUXPDQGWDFDVLQ bhí na seantuismitheoirí agus iad ag Tháinig muid chun na hAstráile de 12.30pm– EUHDWKQ~DUQDJDUSKiLVWtJROpLUDEKtDFX bharr gur thairg an Roinn Oideachais in ag imeacht go dtí an taobh eile den dom- 16: SRVW GRP PDU PKHiQPK~LQWHRLU KDLQ1tUDLEKDIKLRVDFXDQEKIHLF¿GtV Thug siad post dom in Young, baile beag 1.30pm go deo arís iad. tuairim is céad go leith ciliméadar siar ó Ba thuras fada é. Thóg muid an bád thuaidh ó Canberra. farantóireachta thar oíche trasna na Mara 6KURLFK PXLG

 Tinteán March 2012 Daonscoil 2012

Maggie Brady with level 1 students Pamela and Patrick O'Neill.

For the seventeenth year in a row, the Irish Language Association LQJDW&KDSWHU,ILWZDVVWLOOWRXJKJRLQJ%ORRPVGD\ZLOOEH of Australia held a highly successful Summer School, and what running a workshop Ulysses for Beginners on 19 February and a great week it was. Among the highlights were three guest 0DUFK VSHDNHUVFRYHULQJDUDQJHRIWRSLFVDTXL]QLJKWGHEDWHFpLOt As the week progressed further intellectual activity took place and a range of electives to suit all tastes. during which the blood pressure was sorely tested at both the The guest speaker on opening night was Dr Nicholas Wolf 4XL]1LJKWDQGWKH'HEDWHZKLFKSRVHGWKHTXHVWLRQµ:RXOG from the University of Wisconsin-Madison who discussed new technology would be the death of books and conversation?’ examples of people in the 18th – 20th centuries who learned Fortunately, it was proved beyond reasonable doubt that con- Irish late in life. The examples he gave were Charlotte Brooke versation was not and would not be affected by new technology, F  eDGEKDUG Ï 5DJKDOODLJK   DQG especially at Daonscoil! 3iGUDLJ 0DF3LDUDLV   &KDUORWWH %URRNH ZKR QRW The summer school was very fortunate this year to have a only overcame the usual barriers to female education, also went visiting teacher, Megann Raggett from Co. Waterford. Little did on to translate and publish one of the earliest literary collections she realise that, after such a short time in the country, she would of Irish poetry (Reliques of Irish Poetry 1789). be teaching Irish to Australians! It was a fantastic bonus as Father Micheal O’Sullivan gave a presentation on Celtic 0HJDQLVQRWRQO\DTXDOL¿HGWHDFKHUEXWÀXHQWLQ,ULVKDVZHOO &URVVHVLQ,UHODQGIURPWKHth century onwards. These crosses Most people are unaware that formal classes at Daonscoil were Ireland’s biggest contribution to Western European Art of cater for all levels of ability and are conducted both morning the Middle Ages. Some were probably used as meeting points for and afternoon for six days out of seven. As well as the formal religious ceremonies and others were used to mark boundaries. class, each day there are two electives to choose from with this Frances Devlin-Glass presented James Joyce to an audience year’s choices ranging from choir practice to bush walking, to that had, more or less, one thing in common. They all agreed tin whistle practice, to grammar and old Irish. For information Ulysses ZDVYHU\GLI¿FXOWWRUHDG)UDQFHVHQOLJKWHQHGWKHP about the Association and its activities please visit our website at by talking about the chapter in Ulysses that most uses ancient ZZZJDHLOJHVDQDVWUDOFRPRUSKRQH Irish materials, and in response to questions further suggested Deirdre Gillespie WKDWWKH¿UVWWKUHHFKDSWHUVEHLJQRUHGDQGWRFRPPHQFHUHDG Deirdre is President of Cumann Gaeilge nAustráile.

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Tinteán March 2012 15 Patrick and the Bees Patrick saw sails of the moon Poetry unfurl their power from clouds, stringing manes of blue horses that galloped sky’s waterfalls.

The Blackbirds Perched high in the child’s head, There are blackbirds on the street DZDUULRUZLWKÀHHF\KDLUSLHUFLQJFULHV every other day. ¿OOHGWKHVLOHQFHRIWKH\RXWKIXOJD]H The type that grow the gourds, Then music sweeter than his father’s bees, and by all that is renowned and good these self-same birds teach netting sounds, savage as a wild boar to the nestlings hunted to the foot of steep incline, and while away time songs of a hunting day resounded. knitting into place the niceties. Patrick heard his father telling They stalk the pathways looking the bees trials of his own hunting time, for worm-wood-sin, wild ways he had tackled chasms and the girls who beam at bother-boys of the Cambrian Mountains, gentle lays are set to swing after the lunch break… of valleys where he watched new beliefs There they are, lined up, by the great gate. take body, gather gold and incense, Don’t look… I must not look at them, silver bells that rang purple tones, so I look at my pink, scabby, nimble-knees hymns echoed from strand to hill. as they replace each other, To the humming of busy creatures, trouncing up and down. Part and parcel… pace. the curious listening of his son, I cannot look at the girls in disgrace he spoke of three great men, nor see if their ghastly gymslips are in place. strange as language of other worlds, I can, however, imagine the power who gathered their sweetest treasures, of their sin… Part and parcel, pace... wrapped them in cloths of gold, Oh God… pace. their servants packed provisions, for a journey guided by a star. Mary O’Byrne And when they saw this star’s light, Mary’s poem has won a high commendation from the judges of the annual Jageurs Literary Award. as prophesied by their scribes, three strangers set off together, travelled by night, reading the sky, slept by day, dreaming the story,

journeyed from their peoples’ minds, DUULYHGRQDIUR]HQKLOOVLGHZKHUH their star rested in eternal light. Bees stood on air, all toil suspended,

a son listened, magic of the tale ÀHZDURXQGKLPFKDQWHGKLP to blessed places, to learned people. He felt his heart would leave his body.

Just as he saw this sky ship and the pilot of wildness, heard songs’ echoes and bees’ music that evening of his father’s telling, his listening,

Patrick thought the sands rustled the eerie silence of a shadow’s footfall. Racing in time to his head’s drone, he skimmed his star stone at the sea.

Ann Egan Clane, Co. Kildare,

16 Tinteán March 2012 Patrick and the Bird Patrick and the Ship Patrick wandered the furious beach, The sea was calm as a sleeping infant, ÀRWVDPRIWKHVHD¶VEHOWHGGXQHV well fed, winded and loved. he hid behind a rock pile when Patrick built his sea shell boat, rain and sleet piled on hills collected in morning’s solitude

ÀHWFKHVRIRDUVÀLWWHUVRIVDLOV ZKHQROGUHHGVÀXWWHUHGPXVLF A golden circlet lassoed a crag, as shawled women peer out to sea he watched it mesmerise the wind, for menfolk’s return, laden with back and forth, clattering the grey face. mackerel shoals and moon fatigue.

A shadow descended from ragged clouds, 6KDQWLHVRIEUHH]H¿OOHGKLVKRSH a bird, big as a ship, came crashing he spun fantasy’s sails on ropes down like a medley of broken moons, all spindled together by sand’s rustles. fell through lightning’s purple and red, Master of his ship, the boy sailed bore onwards by weight and span. beyond his clifftops’ allure. He waited quaking for the crash. Strong sails slapped winds ,W¶VÀLJKWFKDQJHGWRVZDOORZ¶VJUDFH in lulls of play, he screamed. as it glided close to the shining ring, Imagining himself at the prow, hovered on the hurricane’s temper. a golden chain about his neck, A moment Patrick saw this sky monster to show his hearties he was skipper. whip the circlet from the pinnacle, He shouted childish Latin of FODPSLWWRKLVEHDNÀ\XSZDUGV his twelve proud years, broken words battling wind, rain, hellish noise, plundered from family prayers. to disappear into murky colours He scattered plainsong to the four winds like a faltering light quenching. in master form, preached to people The boy gaped in his shelter, RIODQGVIDOOHQRIIKLVVWUDQG¶VKRUL]RQ wondered had he dreamed the bird, humankind of strange speech. the circlet, or was the tempest Thrice he exhorted them to come forth, playing with his mind’s fear? pay respects, give homage to him, Palladius’s son, this prayerful one Ann Egan Clane, Co. Kildare, who commanded in his spirit sea tribes of a golden island where his dreams played, ships crafted of seashells, sailed eternally. Sea winds coloured by mother of pearl,

whispered to him in old Latin hymns.

Ann Egan Clane Co Kildare Ann Egan, a multi-award winning Irish poet, has held many residencies in counties, hospitals, schools, secure residencies and prisons. Her books are: Landing the Sea (Bradshaw Books); The Wren Women (The Black Mountain Press); Brigit of Kildare (Kildare Library and Arts Services) Widely published in Ireland and abroad, editor of twenty one books, guest editor of, ‘The Midlands Arts and Culture Review,’ 2010. Her next poetry collection, ‘Telling Time,’ will be published in 2012 by Bradshaw Books.

Tinteán March 2012  The Imperial origins of Ireland’s National Museum

The opening of the Dublin Museum and museums were a key educational of Science and Art on 29 August, 1890 technology used to inculcate a sense symbolised the high noon of British Rule of indigenous craft-based industries as in Ireland. Timed to coincide with Horse complementing rather than competing Show week at the Royal Dublin Society with or displacing the mass-productive grounds in Ballsbridge, the summer- power of British industry. season high-point of Anglo-Irish social The setting up of schools of art life in Ireland, it was an occasion of cel- to complement museums centred on ebration for the ruling Anglo-Irish ascen- collections that emphasised the links dancy. The Earl of Zetland, who had been between ‘art and industry’ (one of appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland the four collection categories of the in 1889, presided. The Commander of National Museum of Ireland to this the Forces in Ireland, Prince Edward GD\  ZDV SDUW RI ZKDW EHFDPH NQRZQ of Saxe-Weimar, was in attendance, a as the ‘South Kensington System’. Highland regiment formed a guard of This system owed its origins to Henry honour outside Leinster House, and the Cole, the guiding genius behind the band of the Gloucester regiment provided Great Exhibition of 1851 and the emer- the music for the occasion. gence from it of the South Kensington Of the 200 or so invited guests listed Museum (now the Victoria and Albert in the following day’s Irish Times, not a 0XVHXP &ROHLQKLVUROHDV'LUHFWRU single Irish Parliamentary Party member of the Department of Science and Art in was among them—not even Charles London, sought to implement an impe- Stewart Parnell, whose political career rial system of art and design education would only begin to unravel later that that combined art school training with year, but who was still the undisputed the inspiration of the best design speci- leader of the Party. mens drawn together from the cultures The Museum’s Director, Valentine of the world in a museum. Giving evi- ,UHODQGLQWKHVXPPHURIDYLVLW Ball, stressed the Museum’s role in fos- dence before a special commission to to the Museum was de rigeur. Kingston tering the links between art, design and enquire into art education in Ireland in and his wife showed a particular interest industry: ‘The new Museum,’ he said, 1869, Cole was emphatic that the ambi- in the natural history collections, and ‘with its collections of standard examples, tious museum then being planned for especially in its Australian specimens illustrative of the industrial applications of Dublin should be directly answerable (Irish Times  -XO\   'XULQJ art, should do much for the promotion of to his London Department. these years, the Irish Times dutifully art and industry in this country.’ And he got his way. When the new recorded new acquisitions to the col- Lord Powerscourt, President of the Dublin Museum of Science and Art was lections, among which specimens from Board of Visitors of the Museum, struck established following the passing of the WKHFRORQLHV¿JXUHGODUJH0HDQZKLOH a similar note in his address. He stressed 6FLHQFH DQG $UW 0XVHXP $FW RI  the Museum’s director, Count Plunkett, those uniquely Irish strengths in com- it was run as an annex of the South offered three scholarships to students merce and culture which the collections of Kensington Museum. at the Metropolitan School of Art for the museum would highlight. ‘If Ireland’ Despite the stress aristocrats like studies done on objects in the Museum. he said ‘is not favoured like England Powescourt placed on the unique genius One of the winners was Bertha Dawes, with abundant mineral resources, and of Irish craftsmanship, nationalists were who had made illustrations of ‘the harp may not therefore hope to rival the Sister sensitive to the homogenising implica- in all ages’. Her drawings travelled Isle in the extent of its manufactures,’ tions of this kind of development. George to Australia, where they were exhib- the new museum nevertheless contained Coffey, honorary secretary of the City of ited in several cities. (Irish Times  ‘many splendid specimens of what Celtic Dublin Working Men’s Club, declared in )HEUXDU\ genius has accomplished’. He pointed in 1888 that ‘The South Kensington system George Noble Count Plunkett, who particular to ‘the marvellous designs and is an attempt to administer art as a depart- became the Director of the Museum in workmanship of the ancient silversmiths ment of government, controlled from an ZDVD+RPH5XOHQDWLRQDOLVWDQGD of Ireland, to the beauty of its antique Imperial centre’. Parnellite, who had unsuccessfully con- furniture, and the excellence of its textile It is not surprising then that a kind tested elections in 1892, 1895 and 1898. manufactures’. of imperial reciprocity in collecting He has been credited with giving a sig- This stress on the link between ethnic DQG H[KLELWLQJ FKDUDFWHULVHG WKH ¿UVW QL¿FDQWQDWLRQDOLVWWXUQWRWKH0XVHXP ornamentation, traditional handcrafts decades of the Dublin Museum’s opera- However, his modest move of referring and the development of indigenous tion and its links with the Art School. to ‘The National Museum of Ireland’ in industry was a hallmark of British colo- Naturally enough, when the Premier of his introduction to the Museum’s Annual nial thinking in the nineteenth century, South Australia, CC Kingston, visited 5HSRUWIRUVKRXOGQRWEHVHHQDVD

18 Tinteán March 2012 Located within the Celtic Club building

For the best deals and service when travelling to Ireland and beyond

Photo by fl ickr.com/doyland

UDGLFDOO\QDWLRQDOLVWDVVHUWLRQ,Q neglect as nationalist Ireland struggled to while emphasising that his main goal come to terms with an institution whose was to make the Dublin museum the origins and founding collections had ‘Museum of Ireland’, he was still enthu- been so deeply interwoven with impe- siastically working on ‘enriching it as ULDODQGXQLRQLVWDPELWLRQV,QIRU much as possible from the resources example, one nationalist commentator, of the empire’. To this end, he had set the art critic John Dowling, described not up a system of exchange with colonial only the National Museum but its sister museums. He acknowledged in particu- institution the National Gallery of Ireland At Emerald Travel, Seamus lar the help of Lords Plunkett (Governor as ‘potential enemies…as alien now as and Christina Moloughney RI1HZ=HDODQG DQG'XGOH\ the day we inherited them’. (Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1902-05 For at least a generation the Museum’s continue a family tradition and Governor-General of Australia, ethnographic collection, the greater part of professional travel service   ,Q UHWXUQ IRU QDWXUDO KLVWRU\ of which it had acquired from that bastion specimens Plunkett had sent facsimiles of Anglo-Irish Ireland, Trinity College Level 3, 316 Queen St, of Irish antiquities to the colonies. (Irish Dublin, and which contained a splendid Melbourne VIC 3000 Times$SULO  collection of material from Captain 03 9670 9696 0419 401 584 Plunkett’s career as Director of the Cook’s voyages to the Antipodes in the Fax: 03 9670 7007 National Museum, and with it the fate VVXIIHUHGDOPRVWFRPSOHWHQHJOHFW of the institution itself, was thrown into Only recently, with Ireland’s rapid mod- [email protected] turmoil by the 1916 Rising. His son ernisation and globalisation, has the Joseph Mary, one of the seven signa- museum begun to bring to the fore many tories to the 1916 Proclamation, was valuable items acquired at a time when H[HFXWHGRQ0D\3OXQNHWWZDV the Museum symbolised an Ireland glob- dismissed from his job as Director of the ally networked through empire. Museum. During the ensuing years of Pat Cooke FRQÀLFWWKDWHYHQWXDOO\OHGWRWKHHVWDE Pat Cooke is director of the MA in lishment of the Free State in 1921, the Cultural Policy and Arts Management Museum remained leaderless. at UCD Dublin. Previously he was Following independence, the National director of both Kilmainham Gaol and Museum suffered several decades of the Pearse Museum in Dublin. Licence 32507

Tinteán March 2012 19 Alan Pentony has spent two years in Canada, and now leaves for Perth, Australia Leaving Dublin

It is well known that Ireland has suffered critical periods of PHQWHGYLVXDOO\'DYLG0RQDKDQ¶Vµ/HDYLQJ'XEOLQ¶GH¿QHGDV emigration en masse VLQFH WKH V :KHWKHU PRWLYDWHG E\ an ‘art project with no intention other than to immortalise what economic or political reasons, or by famine, emigration has is being lost to our country’ sets out to complete the hard task of shaped the Irish psyche for generations and has brought with it accounting for as many of these contemporary Irish emigrants one of the largest diasporas, said to be thirteen times the popula- as possible. It is a visual record of a generation that is leaving tion of Ireland. Even in the 1980s it was a norm to emigrate Ireland and do not know if or when they will come back. DIWHUXQLYHUVLW\JUDGXDWLRQDVWKHRSSRUWXQLWLHVWR¿QGDMREDQG The visual strategy chosen by David consists of low-light prosper were few. cityscapes carefully lit, traditional studio poses, with a suitcase %XWEHWZHHQDQGZKLOHHQMR\LQJDQXQSUHFHGHQWHG as the only prop, and the solemn sitters looking away from us. It economic growth, the situation reverted and the then called is a carefully constructed image that wants to remain as a docu- &HOWLF7LJHUZDVOHIWWRGHDOZLWKDUHOHQWOHVVLQÀX[RILPPLJUD ment. The photographer also records important data relating to tion, both of Irish and individuals of many other nationalities. the current situation of the sitters, and their immediate future: Emigration during this period was not the favoured option as plans, hopes, and expectations. prosperity at home seemed assured. µ/HDYLQJ 'XEOLQ¶ LV D SURMHFW WKDW LQYLWHV VHOIUHÀHFWLRQ LW Unfortunately, the said growth proved to be unsustainable informs us of the present circumstances, the complexity of its LIQRWLQIDFWDQGLQGHHGZDVDUWL¿FLDOO\PDLQWDLQHGJOREDOO\ agency, and requires participation from us, because a solution Many multinationals packed and left to greener lands, the con- can only come from the conversation. VWUXFWLRQVHFWRUFROODSVHGDQGWKH¿QDQFLDOVHFWRUZDVEURXJKW It has gained international exposure on the back of the media to bankruptcy, engendering ultimately the economic crash and interest on Ireland’s current situation, and has been featured in the subsequent IMF bailouts. Emigration became once again the newspapers worldwide including the New York Times and the Wall PRVWSHUVXDVLYHRSWLRQIRUPDQ\XQDEOHWR¿QGORFDOMREV Street Journal and the Age, as much as TV channels like the CBS. You can tell Emigration has become a big issue again when The project will be exhibited during July 2012 in the third the Irish Times starts a special feature in their web site, entitled edition of PhotoIreland Festival, that this year investigates the ‘Generation Emigration’. theme ‘Migrations: Diaspora and Cultural Identity’. Find out While an intrinsic aspect of that constructed idea of Irishness, more at www.photoireland.org there is a lack of engagement with Emigration in the Irish visual Ángel Luis González, Director of PhotoIreland Festival arts. Rarely have these periods of population shifts been docu- See David Monahan’s photos at thelillipution.blogspot.com

20 Tinteán March 2012 Aoife Mooney is working in New York “I had never lived anywhere but Dublin, so moving to NY was a big leap for me.”

Mick Reid leaves for Perth, Australia

“I am not really happy to be leaving, I would much rather have work here. If I don’t get work my skills will be lost. Everything changes now as I leave and move abroad. I am sad to leave my family, my dogs and all my friends. But there is nothing here for me now.”

Tinteán March 2012 21 Milena and Tady Walsh are leaving for Quimper in Brittany (France)

Elaine Bannon, a youth worker on her way to Australia

22 Tinteán March 2012 Arson on the Essex The EssexKXONOD\DW'~Q/DRJKDLUHKDUERXUIURPWR mia and ulcers and to institute a routine of cleanliness and order as a prison for Irish convicted men awaiting transportation to before setting sail for Sydney. 6\GQH\3UHYLRXVO\VKHKDGEHHQDJXQIULJDWHRIWRQV The 108 male prisoners who remained in the damaged Essex which had given honourable service for the American navy were shipped to Cork on the deck of one of the government’s before being captured by the British at Valparaiso, Chile dur- brigs. They were to be held in the Surprise hulk which lay at Cobh LQJ6KHZDVDWDQFKRUDJHDW3RUWVPRXWKIRUVRPH\HDUV abreast of Hawlbowline island. Here they were to await the arrival before being de-masted and moved to Dublin to be converted to of a further transport for their deportation, also to Sydney. a convict hulk. The Edward II was the next transport to arrive at Cobh. She 2QWKH-XQHWKHHercules IIDYHVVHORIWRQV ZDVDQROGHUDQGVPDOOHUYHVVHORIWRQV:KHQSULVRQHUV chartered as an English convict transport, sailed into Dublin har- had been embarked, surgeon superintendent Thomas Bell found ERXUÀ\LQJWKHFRORXUVRIDPHUFKDQWPDQ6KHKDGFRPSOHWHG that those from the Essex were an older group who had been the sixteen day journey from Deptford naval base on the Thames FRQYLFWHGDWPRUHUHPRWHFRXQW\DVVL]HV+HUHPDUNHGWKDWµWKH where surgeon superintendent William Martin had come on scenes they passed through since they became prisoners not at ERDUG7KHPLOLWDU\JXDUGFRQVLVWLQJRIVROGLHUVRIWKHth regi- all contributed to their peace of mind.’ So hostile were they as ment of the line was accompanied by some wives. The prisoners surgeon Bell reported ‘they again ventured three times to com- on board the Essex had been mustered by Dr Edward Trevor, mit the same horrid act at Cove.’ These attempts at arson on the superintendent of Irish prisoners and hulks accompanied by the Surprise were unsuccessful. PHGLFDORI¿FHUDQGVXUJHRQ0DUWLQWRGHFODUHWKHP¿WIRUWKH While the prisoners awaited departure, the Lord Lieutenant, journey to Sydney in Hercules II. WKH rd Duke of Northumberland, and Her Grace the Duchess 2QWKHPRUQLQJRI-XQHDERXWR¶FORFNWKHEssex DUULYHGDW&RUNRQDQRI¿FLDOYLVLWIURP2FWREHU+LV ZDVVHHQWREHRQ¿UHLQWKUHHVHSDUDWHSODFHV$OOZHUHRQWKH Lordship’s carriage was drawn along the city streets by the OHHVLGHRIWKHKXONFORVHWRWKHZDWHUOLQH7KHUHZHUHFRQ populace. A dense crowd packed the route to the town hall where victed men in her at the time. As the prisoners were normally the Duke was presented with the keys to the city. A vice-regal roused at seven bells for breakfast some men would have been indulgence was expected by the men in the Surprise. They were below decks cleaning the prison when the alarm was raised. buoyed by the hope of a reprieve and they held this expectation With a narrow doorway that allowed the exit of one man at a until the Edward II VDLOHGRQ2FWREHU time these prisoners were placed at risk. According to surgeon Thomas Bell some of the prisoners on Marines and sailors stationed in the harbour came to the aid of ERDUGKDGEHHQLQYROYHGLQWKHSORWWRVHW¿UHWRWKHEssex and were the EssexDQGH[WLQJXLVKHGWKHÀDPHV7KHFRPPDQGHU0U/DPE also implicated in the attempt on the Surprise. They were now in sent off a despatch to Dublin Castle to summon the horse police. GUHDGRIWKHSXQLVKPHQWZKLFKWKH\H[SHFWHGZRXOGEHLQÀLFWHG 7KH\ZHUHRQWKHLUZD\WR'~Q/DRJKDLUHZKHQWKHSHDFHRI¿FHU upon their arrival in Sydney. Throughout the passage they remained LQVWUXFWHGWKHPWRWXUQEDFNDVWKH¿UHVKDGEHHQVXSSUHVVHG so discontented and despondent that surgeon Bell found it neces- $V WKH ¿UHV KDG EHHQ VHW LQ WKUHH VHSDUDWH SODFHV LW ZDV VDU\WRIRUFHWKHPRQGHFNLQ¿QHZHDWKHUWRWDNHH[HUFLVH considered that they were not accidental. Suspicion fell on a 2QWKHVHVYR\DJHVWR6\GQH\E\WKHHercules II and the prisoner named Edgeworth who had broken out of Naas jail in Edward II the prisoners, on embarkation, were found in a simi- County Kildare before being re-captured and sent to the hulk. lar state of deprivation. Extreme economy had been practised 7KHUHZDVQRPHDQVRI¿QGLQJHPSOR\PHQWIRUWKHPHQRQ in both hulks in terms of hospital expenses and provisions. The the Essex so they spent their days idle on the upper deck. In men were sallow, emaciated and showed signs of scurvy from order to prevent escape, this deck was surrounded by a high inadequate nutrition. They arrived on board dressed in clothes EXOZDUNFRYHULQJLWVIXOOOHQJWKRIIHHW,WKDGEHHQEXLOW PDGHRIIXVWLDQVWXIIDFRDUVHFORWKRIFRWWRQDQGÀD[ZKLFK with both sides and ends curving inwards which made it almost DIIRUGHGLQVXI¿FLHQWSURWHFWLRQDJDLQVWWKHFKLOOVRIWKH6RXWKHUQ impossible to climb. As the prisoners were unable to observe the Ocean. The garments fell into rags after a month of use. shipping movements in the harbour it was presumably through As a result of the more substantial shipboard diet, regular deliveries of stores to the hulk that they learned that a transport bathing in the tubs on deck and the maintenance of a dry prison, was expected shortly for their removal. As later revealed, the ,ULVKPDOHVDUULYHGLQ6\GQH\DERDUGWKHHercules II on ¿UHVZHUHVWDUWHGZLWKWKHDLPRIDWWHPSWLQJDQHVFDSHGXULQJ 1RYHPEHU7KUHHGHDWKVKDGRFFXUUHGRQWKHYR\DJH the confusion of their embarkation. Bored, discontented and The Edward II, which had called at St Jago to replenish water without work or adequate food the prisoners were desperate to VXSSOLHVVDLOHGLQWR6\GQH\KDUERXURQ)HEUXDU\ZLWK return to their families. the loss of three men. One hundred and eighteen prisoners ,PPHGLDWHO\IROORZLQJWKHVXVSHFWHGDUVRQRQWKHKXONRI¿ were disembarked. FLDOVGHFLGHGWRGLVSHUVHWKHSULVRQHUV,QWKHHYHQLQJRI-XQH Anne McMahon 200 men were embarked on the waiting Hercules II. Being a Anne is a retired academic living in Canberra. smaller ship she received her full complement. Of those sent on Further reading: board, 60 were under 20 years of age including a boy of 15. Half ‡'/ &DQQH\ Sailing Warships of the US Navy. London, WKHZHUHDJHGEHWZHHQDQGZKLOHDIHZPHQZHUH Chatham, 2001, pp. 50-51. considerably older. The majority were from Dublin city and the ‡Report by surgeon Andrew Henderson, Royal Admiral, AJCP surrounding county. The Hercules IIUHPDLQHGLQKDUERXUXQWLO 352   -XO\ZKLOHWKHLQYHVWLJDWLRQZDVEHLQJXQGHUWDNHQDQGWR ‡Edward (2)$-&3352 await the warrant for the transportation of the prisoners. Surgeon ‡:%-RKQVRQThe English Prison Hulks. Rev. ed., London, William Martin used the time to treat ailments such as ophthal- 3KLOOLPRUHS

Tinteán March 2012  Beneath the Southern Cross: the Irish in Argentina Ireland has a long history of emigration. with Irish names like Casey, Armstrong Buenos Aires Province and beyond. 7KHth and 18th centuries saw the wild and Duggan, all have their Irish stories. Together with Armstrong, himself a geese emigration, a result of the margin- Where did they come from? banker, they were the financial advis- alisation of the native Catholic popula- The 18th century saw a beginning of ers to the community. Fahy lodged the tion through penal laws which denied Irish migration as part of Spanish colo- community’s money in Armstrong’s them access to land ownership, the pro- nisation process and included some from Bank and advanced loans to buy and fessions and to education. As scholars the British army, following their failed develop farms. The system of sheep the children of the impoverished elite attempt to take over the colony, as well farming by the large Irish landown- sought education on the Continent and as migration by Catholics from Ireland ers facilitated the emergence of a stayed there. This migration was mainly – not the impoverished but rather the land owning Irish class. As payment to France and Spain. children of the Irish rural middle class. for looking after herds of sheep, It was the 19th century which saw the Argentina as a Catholic country was an individual Irish farm workers were mass migration of the Irish particularly attractive destination for a people who allowed a proportion of the sheep as during and subsequent to the Great were marginalised at home. The early well as having access to some land. Famine. With a million dead and another 19th century saw the settlement of many %\  WKH ,ULVK LQ$UJHQWLQD ZHUH million emigrating, the famine triggered the most financially successful group WKHELUWKRIWKHPRGHUQGLDVSRUD,Q of Irish emigrants anywhere in the the population of Ireland was 8 million world. By 1890 it was estimated that compared to England with 16 million – With a million ,ULVKIDPLOLHVRZQHGPLOOLRQ Ireland now has 6 million with 50 million VKHHSDQGRYHUPLOOLRQDFUHVRIWKH in England. Where did we all go? dead and another Pampas. Later Irish communities of $URXQG WKH ZRUOG  PLOOLRQ SHRSOH Palatine and Passionate priests as well FODLP ,ULVK DQFHVWU\ ,Q WKH 86  PLO as Sisters of Mercy and Irish Christian lion – a destination where many arrived million emigrating Brothers set up in Argentina to provide harbouring a great bitterness towards pastoral care and education for the England which would endure longer there the famine triggered Irish community than anywhere else in the diaspora. The With the deaths of Fahy and Armstrong US would be the driving force of Irish the birth of the LQ  WKLV SDWHUQDOLVWLF FRPPXQLW\ nationalism during the Fenian period and system ended and Irish migration to would feature strongly in the struggle for modern diaspora Argentina began to decline. Individual independence at the beginning of the 20th estancieros continued to import Irish century. Apart from the US, Irish emigra- labour but in declining numbers. As the tion featured strongly in the British colo- SDPSDV¿OOHGXSIHZHUQHZ,ULVKPLJUDQWV nies. In Australia where the Irish formed a who would become major landholders in became large holders of land. larger proportion of the overall population Argentina like the Duggans, Maguires, The Golden Age was over and Irish than anywhere else, including the US, O’Farrells. These were mainly from migration would fade away to nothing New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe the Irish midland counties of Longford by 1910. where there is still an Irish population in and Westmeath, and from Wexford, and Mashonaland and the British islands of would give rise to a subsequent chain The City of Dresden Steamship WKH&DULEEHDQEXW\RX¿QGDVSULQNOLQJRI migration from these counties. Large 1889, the last tragic hurrah Irish most everywhere. sheep and cattle farmers, they looked to The last major event in Irish migration to Ireland and the border area of Longford Argentina was the tragic story of the City Argentina and Westmeath and to Wexford for their of Dresden Steamship. The Argentine There was only one major Irish settlement labour and tenants. government of the day encouraged in a non-English speaking country during The total Irish migration to Argentina in migration through free passage schemes. the period of post famine mass migration. the 19thFHQWXU\ZDV±DERXW Two Irish Argentinians (O’Meara and :KHQ,¿UVWZHQWDV,ULVK$PEDVVDGRUWR of whom went on to other destinations 'LOORQ ZHUHWKHDJHQWVIRU,UHODQGZLWK $UJHQWLQD LQ  ZKLOH DZDUH RI WKH mainly the US, leaving the core population per capita fees paid by the Argentine FRPPXQLW\ , ZDV VWLOO DPD]HG WR VHH IRUWKHVHWWOHPHQWRIDURXQG government. Through generous promises the Celtic Crosses in the graveyards, the Fr Anthony Fahy from Galway was of land, houses and seeds etc. – none of Churches, the Irish names on shop fronts the key figure in ensuring the success which would materialise – they enticed and elsewhere, all marking our territory of this settlement. He was sent as pas- largely working class and poor urban and proclaiming our presence. I was tor to the Irish mission in Argentina in Irish to sign up for the Dresden voyage. struck by the obvious Irish faces in the $QRWKHUNH\ILJXUHZDV7KRPDV Until then Irish emigrants to Argentina towns around Buenos Aires and on into Armstrong who, although of Protestant were drawn largely from the more pros- Santé Fe Province. Towns like Mercedes landlord stock from Westmeath, was a perous farmer class. (the capital of Irish settlement in the close friend and partner of Fr Fahy. There were 2000 on the Dresden. 3DPSDV 6DQ$QWRQLRG¶$UHFR&DUPHQ Fahy was the undisputed leader, Some died en route due to a lack of food d’Areco, Arrecifes, Lujan, Capilla del matchmaker and guardian of the Irish and water and the bulk landed in Buenos Senor, Venuadu Tuerto as well as towns community now scattered throughout Aires where no preparations had been

 Tinteán March 2012 made for them. Exploited, robbed and Cruz Del Sur. +LV VRQ (DPRQ %XO¿Q Hogar St Patricio for old people. There neglected, hundreds died over the fol- UDLVHGWKHÀDJRYHUWKH*32LQWKH,ULVK is a number of Irish Club premises scat- lowing months. Late in responding to the rebellion of 1916 and indeed the Irish tered across the pampas in towns like catastrophe, the Irish Argentine commu- in Argentina have always supported the Arricifes and Junin. The biggest clubs nity eventually placed some as workers cause of nationalism in Ireland. Pacho are in Buenos Aires. The Hurling Club LQ HVWDQFLDV 6LJQL¿FDQW QXPEHUV RI WKH O’Donnell is a famous modern Argentine XVHG WR SOD\ ,ULVK +XUOLQJ XS WR  women and girls were located for care in writer. Ché Guevara (whose mother was ZKHQWKHJDPHZDV¿QDOO\DEDQGRQHG convents, this after many girls had gone /\QFK LVZHOONQRZQ/RSH]0XUSK\LV GXHWRGLI¿FXOWLHVLQSURYLGLQJKXUOH\V into prostitution, laying the basis for a a prominent politician and party leader. The club today is an Irish community tradition of Irish Madams and brothels He was a candidate in the Presidential rugby club where over 2000 gather for in Buenos Aires. The Fahy Institute – a election 10 years ago. WKH DQQXDO 6W 3DWULFN¶V$VDGR %%4  school for the less well off in the Irish The community newspaper, the oldest community – received many of the Irish Argentina today of the Irish diaspora newspapers, ‘The orphan survivors. There are 600,000 of Irish descent in Southern Cross/La Cruz del Sur’ is Archbishop of Cashel Dr Croke wrote Argentina today. They are largely middle thriving and carries reports on the Irish in a letter to the Freeman’s Journal class with strong rural communities community in Australia from Sydney 'XEOLQ LQ DV ZHOO DV D VLJQL¿FDQW FRQFHQWUDWLRQ – based Gabriel McCann, himself an ‘Buenos Aires is a cosmopolitan city into in Buenos Aires city. They continue to Irish Argentinian. Most of its content ZKLFKWKHUHYROXWLRQRIKDVEURXJKW have a close relationship with the Irish LV QRZ LQ 6SDQLVK UHÀHFWLQJ WKH IDFW the scum of European scoundrelism. I (PEDVV\ DQG D VWURQJ DI¿QLW\ ZLWK that the community is now essentially most conjure my poorer countrymen, as Ireland. They are a well organised and Spanish speaking. Nonetheless, most they value their happiness hereafter, never cohesive community. Very patriotic of the community speak English and, to set foot on the Argentine soil however Argentines, they sought to distinguish particularly in the case of the older tempted to do so they may be by offers of themselves from the ‘Ingleses’ during members, with a strong Irish midland’s passage and a comfortable home.’ the Malvinas/Falklands war. They were brogue. Although they formally use This was essentially the end of Irish not entirely successful in this regard: the Spanish Christian names, as they were migration to Argentina. VWDWXHRI3DGUDLJ3HDUVHLQ3OD]D,UODQGD legally required to do, many use an in Buenos Aires was vandalised during English name among friends and fam- Notable individuals in the Irish the Malvinas war in the mistaken belief ily. The annual community ‘Encuentro’ diaspora in Argentina that he was English. or gathering, held in a different town The Irish have made an important con- There are a large number of Irish every year, is the great social and tribution to their adopted land. Almiralte Societies in Argentina with the cultural event of the year for the scat- Guillermo Brown from Co Mayo was ‘Federation of Irish Societies’ as the tered community. St Patrick’s Day is of founder of the Argentine Navy and a umbrella representative body. The Irish course a major celebration and an Irish QDYDO KHUR LQ WKH ZDUV DJDLQVW %UD]LO Catholic Association runs Irish Catholic Government Minister goes there each ± D QDWLRQDO ¿JXUH VHFRQG RQO\ WR WKH Schools in Buenos Aires (St Brigid’s year to celebrate with them. Libertador San Martín. Julian Farrell DQG0RQVLJQRUV'LOORQ DVZHOOKDYLQJ Unique in their Spanish South ZDV3UHVLGHQWRI$UJHQWLQDWR a number of estancias or large farms. American experience, they are none-the- (unfortunately a general rather than a Other Irish Schools include Newman less a very familiar and very Irish part of GHPRFUDWLF 3UHVLGHQW  DQG ZDV RXVWHG &ROOHJH ,ULVK&%6 DQG6W%UHQGDQ¶V our diaspora. E\ 3HURQ :LOOLDP %XO¿Q ZKR ZURWH Las Senoras de San Jose, the Ladies of Mairtín O’Fáinín Tales from the Pampas and Rambles in St Joseph, is the long estab lished chari- Mairtín recently retired as the Irish Erin and founded the Irish-Argentine table organisation of the wealthy Irish Ambassador to Australia and has an newspaper – The Southern Cross/La and run the Fahy Institute School and ongoing interest in the Irish diaspora. Read Ireland The only Internet Bookstore dedicated exclusively to Irish interest books Our aim is to make every book of Irish interest readily available to all customers – local and global. The Read Ireland online database contains the most comprehensive and up-to-date catalogue of Irish Interest books available. :HKDYHEHHQVHOOLQJERRNVIRURYHU\HDUVDQGJXDUDQWHHIDVWHIÀFLHQWDQGIULHQGO\VHUYLFHIRUDOOFXVWRPHUV www.readireland.com

Tinteán March 2012 25 Not a spontaneous adventure An address at the Eureka Dinner by a former Ambassador for Ireland Melbourne Celtic Club, 3 December 2011

µ,WKLQNLWPD\EHFDOOHGWKH¿QHVWWKLQJ the reported ten thousand who endorsed already been forged of how solidarity can in Australian history. It was a revolution, the Ballarat Reform League’s Charter at contribute a powerful dynamic to human VPDOO LQ VL]H EXW JUHDW SROLWLFDOO\ LW Bakery Hill less than a month earlier on development and of how a new adventure was a strike for liberty, a struggle for a  1RYHPEHU  DGYDQFHG WKH YLHZ can be advanced and enhanced by the principle, a stand against injustice and for all time and for all Australians that the bonds of freedom and democracy. oppression. It was the Barons and King rigidly authoritarian and class conscious It is also from Carboni that we gain a John all over again; it was Hampden structures of the old European order, special insight into the strong contribution and Ship-Money; it was Concord and which many of them had challenged in made by the Irish revolutionary tradition Lexington; small beginnings all of them, WKHFRXQWULHVRIWKHLUELUWKFRXOG¿QGQR in empowering those events which clearly but all of them great in political thinking, SODFHLQWKLVYDVWODQG¿OOHGZLWKH[WUDRU struck fear into those who sanctioned all of them epoch-making. It is another dinary promise, a place of freedom and the assault on the Stockade. It was, as instance of a victory won by a lost battle. fairness, of responsible and responsive Carboni told us, a revolutionary tradition It adds an honourable page to history; the government as well as of transparent and embodied in the person of Peter Lalor, a people know it and are proud of it. They accountable administration which they son of a Home Rule Member of the Irish keep green the memory of the men who were determined to see established under Parliamentary Party, who represented fell at the Eureka Stockade’. the Southern Cross. Laois in the British House of Commons These inspiring words of Mark Twain While there has been some debate on and whose brother James Fintan Lalor situate in their most appropriate his- the centrality of the Irish contribution to was among the foremost intellectuals of torical context the glorious memory, the Eureka, what is clearly beyond dispute WKH

26 Tinteán March 2012 and the pursuit of happiness’. to be discredited and where state theoc- ment, it was the birth of our ‘democratic Because of the events in the early racy would thankfully appeal only to the way of life’. KRXUVRI6XQGD\'HFHPEHUZKHQ fanatical few. Over the last 100 years and more we PXFKSDLQZDVLQÀLFWHGDQGPXFKEORRG For the majority of modern states in have seen virtually every aspect of our was spilled, autocratic rule was to be today’s world the sole source of their way of life being transformed by this abandoned, arbitrary regulations were to governmental legitimacy derives from ‘process of democratisation’; aspects be set aside and the tide of Australian his- the freely expressed will of their peoples. of our lives that reach well beyond the WRU\ZDVLUUHYRFDEO\DOWHUHG7KHVDFUL¿FH Indeed many of the remaining dictator- public and the political and reach into of the brave made Eureka the birthplace VKLSVVRPHRIZKLFK,VDZDW¿UVWKDQG an understanding of culture which has of Australian liberty, their dedication and in the Middle East, go to great lengths in been transformed, as we look beyond solidarity inspired the acceptance of the attempting to associate themselves with the ‘high culture’ of the elites and gain a rights they demanded and they became our modern democratic narrative. They new appreciation of ourselves in a world the founders of Australia’s accountable use the language of liberty while ruth- that is increasingly dominated by popu- system of administration and ensured that lessly denying its reality; they organise lar music, blockbuster movies, $5 book Australia would be among the foremost of elections from which they ever emerge stops and prime time television. the nations of the world to chart the course victorious and they invariably plunder In the business world we have also of responsible and responsive government their countries resources for personal seen a fundamental shift as economic into the coming ‘age of democracy’. gain. Yet even in those terrible and often power, once the preserve of bankers, Some years ago, with Professor John businessmen and bureaucrats, has been Molony, I visited the graves of those who overwhelmingly transferred to the con- died at Eureka and as we paused before Deep in our trol of national and international institu- those moving memorials we spoke of the democratic tradition tions and with so many in Ireland and little terrier and his master, the Pikeman’s elsewhere shouldering the enormous Dog, and of how that story of love and lies a profound human cost of the socialisation of debt, OR\DOW\UHÀHFWHGVRPXFKRIWKHVWRU\RI the legacy of covert and unregulated free- Eureka: the grieving of a small dog who commitment to market capitalism, as well as of cronyism clung to the person he knew, defended his and corruption assisted by incompetence GHDG PDVWHU ZDV ¿HUFHO\ IDLWKIXO WR KLV protect the rights of DQGLQHI¿FLHQF\&OHDUO\DVQDWLRQDOOHDG provider and to all that he sensed as fam- ers from across the international commu- ily and fraternity. We also recalled those the individual nity pick up the pieces of our damaged who survived, those who worked on into ¿QDQFLDOV\VWHPV WKH\ZLOODOVRKDYHWR the better days they had helped to create. terrifying circumstances there was ever provide the essential democratic trans- Peter Lalor became twice a Minister and the sense that the more the enemies of parency and accountability demanded by a Speaker of the Victorian Parliament. democracy imitated its language and XVWKHLUFLWL]HQVZKRKDYHVRQHHGOHVVO\ The Reform of the Franchise, to which DSHG LWV LQVWLWXWLRQV WKH OHVV ¿UP ZDV suffered the cost of disastrous decisions Eureka was vital, paved the way for the their grip on absolute power, as we have and grave mismanagement. Monaghan born Charles Gavan Duffy seen in this last year of the Arab Spring Perhaps, in the longer term, the most WREOD]HD3DUOLDPHQWDU\WUDLOLQWKHQHZ with the overthrow of Ben-Ali in Tunisia, far-reaching and fundamental of these Victorian Parliament, serving as a reform- 0XEDUDNLQ(J\SWDQG*DGDI¿LQ/LE\D processes of democratisation has been ing Minister with the legendary Tipperary In fact the political story of the 21st the revolution in communications. Gone born Premier John O’Shanassy and later Century is the story of ever increasing is the era when the control of commu- as the Premiership of the State of Victoria. political participation in so many countries nication technologies were vital in rein- But those memorials also remind us and across all continents, as we see, with forcing the authority of the establish- that what happened at Eureka was not increasing and often dramatic frequency, ment and in promoting the message of some spontaneous adventure. It was not long entrenched centres of power shifting the governing elites. The critical trans- the product of a chance cavalier con- from robust and repressive authoritarian formation in this aspect of our lives is spiracy but the determined action by a regimes towards responsible and respon- most graphically highlighted by the fact mass movement of people who asserted sive government, a transformation which that the priority for today’s revolutionar- their civil liberties and claimed their fun- is now commonly referred to as ‘the pro- ies has shifted from the need to take over damental freedoms. They were people cess of democratisation’. But this ‘process the local radio and tv stations to the need who sensed the direction in the ever of democratisation’ has a more profound to get the message of the revolution onto IRUZDUGÀRZLQJWLGHRIKLVWRU\WKH\OHG meaning than voting registration and the internet and to conduct the battle of Australia into the new era of democracy; electoral lists, it goes to the very heart of ideas across the social media, the world an era where absolute monarchies were what we celebrate at Eureka. For the real in which, as Thomas Friedman has to become part of antiquity; where fas- YLFWRU\RI'HFHPEHUZDVQRWMXVW remarked ‘everyone is connected but no cism and totalitarian communism were the achievement of representative govern- one is in control’.

Tinteán March 2012  All of this suggests that we are con- familiar ground and above all enabling us FLYLFVLJQL¿FDQFHRIWKH6WRFNDGHVLWHDQG stantly under challenge to be clear about to look to the future with ambitious expec- recognise how the roots of Eureka lie deep what we mean by political democracy tations grounded in hope and experience. in the soil of so many nations. But it will DQGUHSUHVHQWDWLYHJRYHUQPHQW&LWL]HQV 2XU PRGHUQ GHPRFUDF\ IDFHV GLI¿FXOW also and centrally be a place where this want to be assured that democracy is not challenges: combatting terrorism, adjust- JHQHUDWLRQZLOOUHÀHFWRQWKHOLYLQJOHJDF\ just about elections, crucial as they are. ing to globalisation, embracing new tech- of the past and seek to add excellence and It has to be about much more. As Jean- nologies, rebuilding broken political and experience to our democratic political sys- Jacques Rousseau said, ‘the strongest ¿QDQFLDO LQVWLWXWLRQV EXW SHUKDSV DERYH tem into the future. is never strong enough to be master DOO ¿QGLQJ DQG IRUJLQJ QHZ OHDGHUVKLS Just one hundred years ago, President unless he translates strength into right that will be visionary and moral, that will Woodrow Wilson took the American and obedience into duty’. For deep in protect liberty, advance freedom and ever people into the 20th Century with the our democratic tradition lies a profound enhance our common way of life – our commitment to make ‘the world safe for commitment to protect the rights of the inclusive democracy. democracy’. For those who feel especially individual, to defend the interests of the It was the Irish born parliamentarian FORVHWRWKHHYHQWVRI'HFHPEHUDQG community and to guarantee the funda- Edmund Burke who once described society for all those who will engage in discussion mental freedoms of religion, expression as a partnership between the dead, the liv- and research at the promised and promis- and assembly and to uphold and indeed ing and the unborn. And in looking to the ing Australian Centre for Democracy at to cherish the right to dissent. future, to the promise of Edmund Burke’s the Eureka Stockade, their challenge and Fundamentally we all appreciate that \HW XQERUQ JHQHUDWLRQV WKRVH UHÀHFWLRQV ours will be to make ‘democracy safe for the history of our civilisation, our search lead me to welcome the impressive initia- the world’! IRUSURJUHVVLVQRWMXVWDUHÀHFWLRQRQWKH tive which will see the establishment next Richard O’Brien past. It is more crucially an inspiration and year of the Australian Centre for Democracy Richard O’Brien is the former an instruction about the present, deepen- at Eureka. I know that this initiative will Ambassador for Ireland to Australia, ing the understanding of ourselves on strengthen the educational, historical and now retired and resident in Canberra. PIERCE BODY WORKS Had an accident? Not your fault?

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28 Tinteán March 2012 Brigidfest 2012: servant-girls with tickets on themselves

After problems in 2011 that made it raft of other complaints (‘hard to get … The lecture was an illustrated one, and impossible for the organisers to stage untrained … unintelligent … too costly the cartoons exhibited were complex in Brigidfest, the revived annual luncheon to employ … too inclined to ask for perks their meanings. The cartoonists had much at the Celtic Club, Melbourne, on 5 «GRQRWVWD\¶ ZHUHPHWE\FRUUHVSRQG malicious sport with the mistress/servant February was a resounding success. ing claims from the servant girls that they relationship, mocking the Irish women The after-dinner speech by Professor were forced to work long hours, had little for their newness and incompetence, (OL]DEHWK 0DOFROP µ$ &DUWRRQ +LVWRU\ leisure, too few visitors, were not paid viewing their religious observances as of Brigid in Australia’, examined late at all, or not paid in a timely fashion, FRPLFDODQGH[DJJHUDWLQJWKHLUEHH¿QHVV nineteenth century representations in and were subject to physical, verbal and and forthrightness. They also construed cartoon form in the Sydney Bulletin sexual abuse, and were forced to follow them as uppity: the best cartoon was one and Melbourne Punch of a class of Irish unfamiliar religious observances. The which inverted the employment interview domestic servants, collectively referred acts under which these women were by having the servant judge the mistress to as ‘Bridgets’. employed were British in origin and gave as unworthy. The cartoonists occasion- (OL]DEHWKEHJDQE\VNHWFKLQJWKHFRQ much more power to the employer. Trade ally dared to allude to the delicate fact ditions under which domestic servants Unions for servants did not emerge until that some free servant girls were working came to Australia and under which they the late 1880s and were not securely in for prosperous descendants of convicts. worked. Migration of free, working place until the 1890s. Despite this power Despite the malice of the cartoonists, class women, many of them Irish, greatly imbalance, the women were not averse what emerges from these eloquent car- accelerated after the end of convict to taking action on their own account toons is a class of women who were well WUDQVSRUWDWLRQ LQ WKH V \HW FXUL and some even sought redress through able to defend themselves, demand their ously, the number of domestic servants the courts. Labour shortages and gender rights and who knew their own worth. LQ$XVWUDOLDGLGQ¶WSHDNXQWLOWKHV imbalances in colonial Australia gave These readings may not be what the Irish women faced overt discrimination, them more bargaining power than one cartoonists intended, but they constitute DV HPSOR\HUV RIWHQ H[SOLFLWO\ VSHFL¿HG ZRXOGH[SHFW2IWKH,ULVK)DPLQH D ¿QH UHDVRQ WR FHOHEUDWH %ULJLG DV DQ English or Scots girls in preference to RUSKDQVZKRDUULYHGLQDQGPRVW independent working woman and to cel- Irish ones, complaining of their dietary of whom were employed as domestic ser- ebrate egalitarianism in both its Irish and habits on Fridays and inconvenient vants 60 per cent had married older well Australian manifestations. mass-attending habits. The predictable established men within three years. Frances Devlin-Glass Joe Creighton’s ‘Into the Mystic’ Belfast-born, Melbourne-based musician Joe Creighton is tak- out. On almost all the songs, Joe allowed the spotlight to ing his tribute to Van Morrison ‘Into the Mystic’ on the road, turn on each band member, and not just for a few notes. The in a series of intimate concerts, leading up to a major concert FXPXODWLYHHIIHFWZDVDWHUUL¿FFRQFHUWZLWK&UHLJKWRQFOHDUO\ series production. enjoying the band members’ individual contributions. Since leaving Belfast aged eighteen, travelling the world Creighton’s quartet took Van Morrison’s songs to new and settling in Australia, Joe Creighton has become a highly depths, with arrangements that are bold, exciting, provocative sought-after bass-player, guitarist, singer/songwriter and and totally refreshing. Listening to the performance, I was recording artist. He is an integral part of the Australian music DPD]HG DW KRZ -RH FRXOG FRPSOHWHO\ WUDQVIRUP KLV PXVLFDO scene, touring and recording with great artists such as Olivia persona – yet retain what made Van’s music so great in the Newton-John, Kylie Minogue, John Farnham, Joe Camilleri ¿UVWSODFH,I\RXFORVHG\RXUH\HV±\RX¶GVZHDU9DQWKH0DQ and the Black Sorrows – to name just a few. was performing in front of you. To quote Brian Wise, music My partner and I attended the second sold-out performance journalist and radio DJ, ‘Joe Creighton gives one of the best of his new show on 20 January, at the beautiful state-of-the-art readings of a Van Morrison song that I have heard’. High Burrinja Cultural Centre, in Upwey. praise from an ardent Van Morrison fan and one who has seen As soon as his accompanists started playing, and Joe Van performing live many times. raised his voice, I felt in my bones this was going to be a 7KURXJKWKH$XVWUDOLDQ%XVLQHVV$UWV)RXQGDWLRQ $ED)  special experience. The band was in top form, digging deep Joe is offering tax-deductibility to all investors in his major LQWR 9DQ¶V WUDGHPDUN ,ULVK FRPER RI MD]] 5 % EOXHV DQG FRQFHUW SURGXFWLRQ ZKLFK ZLOO IHDWXUH D ¿YHSLHFH EDQG D SRS SHUIRUPLQJ ÀDZOHVVO\ RQ D ZLGH FURVVVHFWLRQ RI 9DQ four-piece string section, a three-piece brass section, and Morrison’s enormous repertoire. Joe’s concert program took two backing vocalists. The backdrop will consist of images us on a journey beginning in the 60s and continued through from the times when the songs were hits, the marches, Rev the decades encompassing Van Morrison’s worldwide hits with Ian Paisley, Bernadette Devlin, riots, IRA bombings, moving a sprinkling of some of the more mystical poetic songs from into a mood enhancing light show creating an all encompass- the Astral Weeks album. When he invited the audience to sing ing audio visual experience. If you would like to invest in this along on ‘Gloria’, the excited crowd nearly raised the roof! production, contact Joe directly: [email protected] The Astral Weeks songs lost none of their sophisticated All in all, an outstanding concert. Here’s hoping there will instrumental intensity onstage; the band’s crack timing with be another opportunity to see him again soon. tempo and volume proved they knew those melodies inside Mairéid Sullivan

Tinteán March 2012 29 Hobart’s favoured guest Captain Francis Crozier (born in Banbridge, Northern Ireland) was arguably Ireland’s greatest polar explorer. He made fi ve remarkable Polar voyages before disappearing on Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated disaster of 1845 in search of the North West Passage. In 1839 Crozier was appointed second in command of an expedition led by James Clark Ross to map the unknown waters and coastline around Antarctica and to establish magnetic observatories in the Southern Hemisphere. John Hagan describes Crozier’s exploits in Hobart, the capital of Van Diemen’s Land, during the months he spent there.

,Q  +REDUW ZDV LQGHHG SURVSHU and Ross were swept up in the local Ross. Davis’ sketch formed the basis for ous. According to historian Kathleen social whirl. Dinners, dances, lectures ex-convict Thomas Bock’s famous work, )LW]SDWULFNµODUJHLQFRPHVDQGODFNRI at the Mechanics’ Institute, fraternising Rossbank Observatory, which depicts the ways of spending then led to conspicu- and dining with the 51st Regiment at the recently constructed buildings, together ous consumption.’ There was apparently Barracks, all became part and parcel of ZLWK WKH WKUHH FDSWDLQV 5RVV ULJKW  QR VKRUWDJH RI µGUHVV FRDWV VXSHU¿QH their routine while ashore. According to &UR]LHU FHQWUH DQG)UDQNOLQ OHIW 7KLV FORWKVVXSHU¿QHKDWV,WDOLDQKDUSVDQG polar historian and author, Michael Smith, illustration is now part of the collection of )UHQFKWHDFKHUV¶DPRQJVWWKHFLWL]HQU\ µ&UR]LHUDQG5RVVZHUHIHWHGHYHU\ZKHUH the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. 'HVSLWH LWV IDU ÀXQJ FRORQLDO ORFDWLRQ they went.’ However, the principal reason An extravagant ball, in honour of Hobart was also well renowned for for the visit, the construction of a new, &UR]LHUDQG5RVVZDVKHOGLQ+REDUWRQ its warmth and hospitality to visiting functional, magnetic observatory, natu- WKHHYHQLQJRI2FWREHU&KDUOHV seafarers. French Antarctic explorer, rally dominated their time. Napoleon, the best French chef in the col- Dumont d’Urville reported during his Having been alerted to their arrival RQ\RI¿FLDWHGDQGWKHZDOOVDQGZLQGRZV VRMRXUQ LQ  WKDW µ,QYLWDWLRQV DQG Franklin had busily assembled all the of the Customs House (now Parliament entertainments came thick and fast’. materials and labour needed to build the +RXVH ZHUHEHGHFNHGZLWKÀDJVOLJKWV It was into this environment that the observatory. A squad of 200 convicts and ferns. Local delicacies were washed British Antarctic Expedition of Sir worked daily from six in the morning GRZQZLWK¿QHFKDPSDJQHZLWKWKH James Clark Ross and Captain Francis until ten at night (with the exception invited guests dancing through the night &UR]LHUDUULYHGLQ$XJXVW RI 6XQGD\  DQG WKH REVHUYDWRU\ ZDV until dawn. The Admiralty had traditionally FRPSOHWHG LQ QLQH GD\V &UR]LHU VRRQ Before departing for Antarctic duties, shown little curiosity in Antarctica, based eagerly began taking magnetic readings; &UR]LHUZDVLQYROYHGLQWZRRWKHULPSRU on Cook’s information that it was just a however, all did not progress as smoothly WDQW IXQFWLRQV 2Q  1RYHPEHU  XVHOHVV IUR]HQ ZDVWHODQG 7KLV PLQGVHW as expected. Many Hobartians were both he and Ross were invited to attend FKDQJHG GXULQJ WKH PLGV ZKHQ intrigued by all the activity and took the the laying of the foundation stone for it was decided to launch an expedition opportunity to visit the site of the obser- the current Government House, and a WR ¿QG WKH 6RXWK 0DJQHWLF 3ROH DQG WR vatory. The Hobart Town Advertiser description of the proceedings acknowl- establish a series of magnetic observato- UHSRUWHG RQ2FWREHU WKDWµRQH edging the presence of the two captains ries between Cape Horn and Australia to of the fashionable belles – on leaning was buried under the building. The 51st enhance accurate navigation. With this in over to obtain ‘a sight’, set the instrument Regiment presented arms while in the PLQGRQ6HSWHPEHUErebus and vibrating. It is said the fair lady had on harbour the guns of Erebus and Terror TerrorFRPPDQGHGE\5RVVDQG&UR]LHU a steel bust, which did so much uninten- saluted the occasion. set sail from Chatham for Hobart Town. tional mischief’. 7ZRGD\VODWHU&UR]LHUDQG5RVVZHUH Buffeted by force ten gales and driving It had been planned to name the obser- present at another foundation event, this storms for most of their journey through vatory Gauss Villa, after the eminent time at New Norfolk where a secondary WKH6RXWK3DFL¿FDQGDFURVVWKH5RDULQJ German mathematician and noted mag- college for boys was to be established. Forties, it was no doubt a great relief netism authority, Karl Frederich Gauss. )ROORZLQJ WKH RI¿FLDO FHUHPRQ\ WKH for the two captains to make landfall. In However Lady Jane, mildly infatuated by guests retreated to the Bush Inn (still in Hobart they were warmly greeted by the the dashing Ross, persuaded her husband RSHUDWLRQ  ZKHUH ERWK FDSWDLQV ZHUH Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Franklin, to call it Rossbank. toasted with great enthusiasm. However, an old friend who was himself a noted In order to mark the occasion, Lady during the evening thieves moved the veteran polar explorer. ‘The arrival of Franklin requested artist Henry Mundy foundation stone and stole the coins &DSWDLQV 5RVV DQG &UR]LHU DGGHG PXFK ‘to paint a picture for me of Rossbank, which had been buried beneath. This was to Sir John’s happiness,’ recorded his ZLWKWKH2E>REVHUYDWRU\@± &DSQ5RVV deemed a disturbing portent for the suc- wife, Jane, Lady Franklin. &UR]LHU 6LU-RKQLQWKHIRUHJURXQG¶ cess of the development and, as a result, 7KH FLWL]HQV RI +REDUW ZHUH DOVR Unfortunately Mundy was unable to the school was never built. pleased to welcome Erebus, Terror accept the commission, and, rather than 2Q  1RYHPEHU  &UR]LHU DQG and their crews, and the Hobart Town VHH /DG\ -DQH GLVDSSRLQWHG &UR]LHU Ross farewelled the Franklin house- Courier $XJXVW XUJHGLWVUHDG asked John Davis, second master of hold and Hobart Town, setting sail for ers to show, ‘that Van Diemen’s Land, TerrorWRPDNHDVNHWFKZKLFK&UR]LHU Antarctica. Here they charted a consider- which is the maximum point of intensity then presented. ‘It is one of the prettiest DEOHDPRXQWRIWKHIUR]HQFRQWLQHQWGLV in magnetism, is not the minimum one of thoughts that ever entered into Captn covered Mount Erebus, set a new record all that appertains to the social relations &UR]LHU¶V KHDG WR VHQG PH WKLV PHPR for the extent of southern travel, and in RIOLIH¶6RLWZDVQRWORQJEHIRUH&UR]LHU rial’, Lady Franklin later wrote to Captain $SULOIROORZLQJVRPHHSLFIHDWVRI

 Tinteán March 2012 seamanship amongst the icebergs (espe- FLDOO\ E\ &UR]LHU  Erebus and Terror reentered the Derwent. Hobart was again in party mood to welcome them. To mark their exploits in Antarctica, the Royal Victorian Theatre QRZWKH7KHDWUH5R\DO VWDJHGDµJUDQG nautical drama’ entitled ‘The South Polar Expedition, or the Discoveries of Captains 5RVV DQG &UR]LHU¶ 7KH Hobart Town Courier  0D\   VDUGRQLFDOO\ observed that the drama ‘was evidently much better written than it was played’, while Robert McCormick, surgeon on Erebus, described it as, ‘rather indiffer- ently got up and not much better acted.’ Apparently, because of the seedy sur- roundings of the Theatre, and at the urging of Sir John and Lady Jane, neither of the two captains attended the production. The return to Hobart allowed Francis &UR]LHU PRUH WLPH WR ZRR 6LU -RKQ¶V pretty niece, Sophy Cracroft, with whom he had fallen deeply in love. Despite his Crozier’s statue in Church Square, Banbridge Photo John Hagan best efforts it was a relationship which was doomed from the start. Sophy, who in Tasmanian colonial history. Erebus with the words, ‘cead mile fáilte,’ mean- ZDVVRPHWKLQJRIDÀLUWKDGKHUH\HRQ and Terror were lashed together in the ing 100,000 welcomes. The whole event the dashing Ross, and considered the 'HUZHQWDERXWPHWUHVRIIVKRUHIURP is very much a part of the island’s rich SODLQVSRNHQDQGUHVHUYHG&UR]LHUµSRRU WKHWKHQ *RYHUQPHQW+RXVH colonial history is proudly remembered, Irish’ and an ‘indifferent speller’. She Prior to the ball, Hobart was agog with as ‘The Glorious First of June’. twice rebuffed his offer of marriage. excitement and the Town’s dressmakers 2Q  -XO\  Erebus and Terror While the school at New Norfolk DQGPLOOLQHUVZHUHNHSWEXV\¿WWLQJDQG again left Hobart this time bound for QHYHUHYHQWXDWHG&UR]LHUZDVJHQHURXVO\ PDNLQJQHZ¿QHU\7RKRVWWKHJXHVWV 6\GQH\ZKHUH&UR]LHUDQG5RVVLQVWDOOHG able to contribute to an enduring and the decks of Erebus were transformed to another observatory at Garden Island. prestigious educational establishment. resemble an elegant ballroom, with the The voyage formally drew to a close in 2Q  -XQH  $UFKGHDFRQ +XWFKLQV LQWURGXFWLRQ RI UHG EDL]H FKDQGHOLHUV (QJODQG RQ  6HSWHPEHU  ,W ZDV died suddenly, and following the funeral PLUURUVDQGÀRZHUV0XVLFZDVSURYLGHG DOPRVWIRXU\HDUVWRWKHGD\WKDW&UR]LHU a meeting was held to raise money for a by the band of the 51st Regiment and the and Ross had departed. So ended the last public memorial in the form of a Church Hobart Town Quadrille Band. In keeping great journey of discovery to rely solely of England school. Ross contributed 10 with the quality of decorations, Terror’s on sail. JXLQHDVDQG&UR]LHU ±GRQDWLRQVRQO\ dining tables groaned under the weight of 2Q  0D\  WKRVH VDPH WZR exceeded by the Franklins, Mr Justice French, English and local dishes, accom- ships, which in Hobart Town had echoed Pedder, William Archer, and Colonial SDQLHGE\WKHFRORQ\¶V¿QHVWKRFNFODUHW WRWKHVRXQGVRIZDOW]HVDQGTXDGULOOHV Secretary, John Montague. Five years champagne, port and sherry. According UHXQLWHG &UR]LHU DQG )UDQNOLQ HPEURLO later The Hutchins School was founded, to the Hobart Town Advertiser  -XQH ing both in the worst disaster, and and still maintains the reputation of being   LW ZDV µTXLWH LPSRVVLEOH IRU DQ\ greatest mystery, in the history of Polar Hobart’s leading private school for boys. fete to have been more elegant and taste- exploration. Undoubtedly, the highlight of their ful than the ball and supper which took John Hagan return visit to Hobart was the Grand place on Her Majesty’s ships Erebus John Hagan is a freelance journal- %DOO ZKLFK &DSWDLQV &UR]LHU DQG 5RVV and Terror on Tuesday last’. Despite not ist based in Hobart and a graduate staged to thank the Franklins and the citi- EHLQJ D ÀXHQW ,ULVK VSHDNHU &UR]LHU LQ of Trinity College Dublin and the ]HQV RI +REDUW IRU WKHLU KRVSLWDOLW\ DQG response to a toast, provided something University of Wales. He emigrated to assistance. It was the biggest naval ball of a surprise by addressing the gathering Australia in 1976.

Tinteán March 2012  The fi rst hurling game in Melbourne

Two accounts of the fi rst hurling game in Melbourne in 1844 exist, one by the chronicler of early Melbourne, ‘Gar- ryowen’ (Edmund Finn), and another in the memoir of John Howard, a prominent fi gure for many decades in Catholic societies. Garryowen, writing in 1879, begins the story:

,QWKH2UDQJHPHQEHJDQWRIHHOWKHLUVWUHQJWKDQGLWZDV resolved that on the 12 July, the anniversary of the battle of Aughrim, Melbourne should witness a grand spectacular display of an Orange procession through the streets. John Howard then tells us: With his usual shrewdness and tact, without directly opposing an Orange demonstration, Sir John O’Shanassy caused it to be made public by advertise- ment that a grand hurling match would be held on the same GD\RIWKHFHOHEUDWLRQRI.LQJ:LOOLDPWKHSODFHRIUHQGH]YRXV being the foot, not of ‘Slieve-na-mon’, but of Batman’s Hill. Mr O’Shannassy, then President of the St Patrick’s Society, marching to the trysting ground in his green cloak, headed the procession, and captained his Tipperary legions; his opponent, Mr. McNamara, the ninth part of a man, doing the honour for the Limerick and Clare hurlers. The contrast between the captains in VL]HDQGGUHVVZDVJURWHVTXHDQGEHFDPHWKHVRXUFHRIDWWUDF tion and merriment rather than the game, which in itself was secondary to the primary object of drawing away the crowd and SRVVLEOHFRQWDFWZLWKXQEULGOHGUXI¿DQLVP ‘Garryowen’: Batman’s Hill was a picturesque eminence – green as a leek, with a spacious plateau around its base; but it KDVORQJVLQFHGLVDSSHDUHGXQGHUWKHFRPELQHGLQÀXHQFHRISLFN and shovel, and forms the site of the now Spencer Street railway station. The hurlers had a glorious day of it, and footballing was added to the sport. The attendance was very numerous between ten o’clock and noon. But the best joke was that this hurling of possessing some such reserve for our people’s amusements, tournament not only quelled the threathened Orange procession, impelled me to suggest the desirability of fencing in the Catholic but its novelty, and the cleverness of the ruse, actually induced College Reserve [at the University]. On our passing through that PDQ\RIWKHZRUVKLSSHUVRI>.LQJ@:LOOLDPWRÀRFNWRWKHFRQ then open, unformed, and apparently neglected grant for the vincing ground, and become excited spectators of the enlivening future building of a Catholic College, we saw the need for a SHUIRUPDQFHVHQDFWHGEHIRUHWKHP,FDQQRW¿QGDQ\SXEOLVKHG substantial fence, which would effect a saving in the rent then report of the scoring and minutiae of the day’s proceedings. paid for the use of holding pic-nics and annual reunion. The Herald of 16 July, 1844, published a ballad on the match, The hoardings of the city and suburbs, covered with green ‘The ‘Hurling’ at Batman’s Hill’, the last two stanzas of which posters, announced the revival of a grand Hurling Match, which are as follows: attracted some thousands, being new to a new generation. Mr. Full may a time did each light-hearted soul Fogarty captained his Tipperary legions, whilst I had the honour Lend his hurley to hurl the ball to the goal; RI OHDGLQJ WKH *DUU\RZHQ ER\V LQWR WKH ¿HOG 0DQ\ DGYHUVH And many a time might the football be seen remarks were indulged in. When forty-two brave an active Careering in eddies wide over the green. combatants appeared, dressed in green and gold, with their But the bigoted Shoneens who hailed from the Boyne, formidable hurleys, there surely must be bloodshed or many With their ‘grand Orange’ banner were not up to time, accidents, was generally expressed; but, to the disappointment For deuce take the ha’porth was there to be seen of many, after a display of skill, the game resulted in a draw, the But ‘Sprigs of Shillelagh and Shamrocks so Green’. only casualty being the loss of Mr. Fogarty’s new Sunday hat. ‘Garryowen’: It seems they [the Orangemen] only ‘nursed A new impetus was given to the national game. Clubs their wrath to keep it warm’ – and they took so much of Oliver VSUDQJLQWRH[LVWHQFHDOORYHUWKHFRORQ\7KH¿UVWJUHDWPDWFK Cromwell’s celebrated advice as ‘to keep their powder dry’ Warrnambool v. Melbourne, attracted immense excitement. The until the following year, where there occurred a disgraceful preparations for the visitors were on a grand scale, they being riot, attended with bloodshed at the anniversary celebration in met at the wharf, and driven through the city and suburbs in a Queen St. drag and four greys. Some thousands assembled at the trysting John Howard describes the subsequent history of hurling in ground. The late Sir John O’Shannassy, acting as central umpire, Victoria, when he was President of the Victorian Hurling Society remarked to me, as captain of the home team, the pleasure it in the 1870s: afforded him of witnessing the revival of the game, in which he The loss of our [Batman’s Hill] ground and the urgent need himself had been the principal actor nearly forty years before.

 Tinteán March 2012 $IWHUDGLVSOD\RIÀHHWQHVVRQWKHSDUWRIWKHYLVLWRUVDQGWKHQR consequence the national game of hurling ceased to attract the less able defence of their more staid and experienced opponents, thousands of enthusiasts who so vociferously applauded, and at a drawn game was the result. present only a few of the original clubs exist. The College Reserve became the centre of attraction, the Patrick Morgan metropolitan and suburban clubs often defending their citadel An intriguing sidelight here is the reference to football against the onslaughts of Kyneton, Lauriston and Bungaree, played by the Irish in Melbourne in 1844. They were etc. The staid and conservative minds of the presumably playing some local variant University authorities became so shocked at of Gaelic football a decade before the what they complained was the misapplied a grand hurling period usually ascribed to the beginning use of the reserve, in its being let for football of Australian rules football in Melbourne, purposes, that it ceased to be so used. For match would be which suggests the Irish may have had the second time, the object of the promoters, some part in its development. Garryowen’s to secure a reserve for their children’s recre- held on the article, ‘The First Hurling Match in ation and athletic purposes, was frustrated, same day of the Melbourne’, was published in the Advocate and we were for the time being seeking a of 26 April, 1879; his material came from more suitable site. celebration of the Melbourne Herald of 9 & 15 April and Ultimately one adjoining the North 16 July, 1844. John Howard memoir The Melbourne Recreation Reserve was secured King William First Thirty Years’ Rise and Progress of on the usual conditions. The ground soon the HACB Society, Tytherleigh & Bayre, became the centre of attraction, the central Melbourne, 1896, which covers much UHQGH]YRXVIRUDOOWKHFRXQWU\FOXEV,WZDVORRNHGXSRQDVSHU wider ground than its title indicates, is a neglected source manent – when, lo! the Railway Department surveyed a subur- on the Irish and on Catholicism in 19th century Melbourne. ban line through the middle of the reserve. We had no alternative A copy is held in the Rare Books section of the State Library than to surrender, and for the third time the object and laudable of Victoria, to whom acknowledgement is made for material desire of permanently securing a site was frustrated, and in used in this article.

Tinteán March 2012  From Guerrilla to Quaker Terence O’Reilly: Rebel Heart, Mercier Press, Cork, 2009 ISBN: 978 1 85635 649 7; RRP: $31.59.

The prologue of this account of George Lennon’s life, throws The descriptions of the actions are set amongst a background up the terrible impacts on ordinary people of uprising and civil of extensive support from just about the entire countryside. war, with an account of the death of Sergeant Michael Hickey at Priests blessed them and heard confessions, doctors treated them /HQQRQ¶VKDQGV/HQQRQ¶VÀ\LQJFROXPQDPEXVKHGVRPH%ODFN VRIDUDVWKH\FRXOG DQGHYHQSULVRQZDUGHUVWULHGWRFRPIRUW and Tans, with deaths on both sides, but captured Hickey alive. them within their limited powers. As he was a member of the RIC and recognised his captors, While O’Reilly conveys to the reader very little about the he was shot to prevent him revealing their identities, despite PRWLYDWLRQRUSHUVRQDOH[SHULHQFHRIWKH¿JKWHUVWKHGHVFULS the fact that he was well known and liked in the community. tions of the courage of both sides are quite remarkable. As far as %HIRUHKLVGHDWKE\¿ULQJVTXDGKHUHPLQGHG/HQQRQWKDWKH the IRA were concerned, most battles came after long, exhaust- had known him as a child and said ‘you are the only person LQJPDUFKHV RUELF\FOHULGHV WKURXJKWKHFRXQWU\VLGHWRJHWLQWR who can save me’. Lennon replied ‘I would give anything in SRVLWLRQDWDOOZKHUHWKRVHOXFN\IHZZLWK/HH(Q¿HOGVWRRN the world to save you, but I cannot’. After the shooting, it was up a position a cautious distance away from the ‘shotgun men’ Lennon who stepped up to administer the coup de grace: a bullet whose weapons were apt to explode when overheated. Death in through the head. To this day, Lennon’s son Ivan is trying to put battle was prepared for by confession before the attack and then a marker on Hickey’s grave to acknowledge the fact that Hickey taken very calmly; for example ‘Padraig Ceitinn a good, tough, was a victim of circumstances; a decent man in the wrong place spirited mountainy man, with two bullets right through his body, at the wrong time. managed to walk a few paces with help, […] He told his com- After a heroic career as a Flying Column captain, Lennon rade to take his belt and Parabellum […] for he was going to HPLJUDWHGWRWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV¿UVWLQ GLH¶ S $VLVVRW\SLFDOLQWKHVHVWRULHV DQG WKHQ SHUPDQHQWO\ LQ  EHFDPH D little is made of the extraordinary disparity Quaker, opposed the war in Vietnam and ‘I would give of arms and resources between the two sides. helped found the Rochester Zen Centre. 7KH9ROXQWHHUVZLWKWKHLUULÀHVDQGVKRWJXQV O’Reilly uses Lennon’s diaries to discuss the anything in the apparently thought nothing of taking on a contrasts between the Ireland of the Rising train packed with soldiers and escorted by a and 50 years later, making the point that world to save you, plane which was armed with a machine gun. social change, particularly where women Fortunately for the attackers, the plane turned were concerned, was glacially slow. Perhaps but I cannot’ back before they held up the train with a party Yeats should have represented Parnell as RI QLQH ± µPRVW RI WKH PHQ KDG ULÀHV ± WKH saying to a cheering woman ‘Ireland shall UHPDLQGHUKDGVKRWJXQV¶ S  get her freedom and you will still break stone’. After the Treaty was signed, Lennon took over the Waterford The narrative returns abruptly to 1916, where the teenage military barracks and when the Civil War broke out, he joined the George Lennon and his friend – the gloriously misnamed ‘Pax’ anti-Treaty side. While he participated in the defence of Waterford Whelan – were arrested for ‘Entering a house disguised and DJDLQVW)UHH6WDWHIRUFHVKHIRXQGLWYHU\GLI¿FXOWWR¿JKWDJDLQVW FDUU\ DZD\ D JXQ¶$W ¶ ò´  FPV  DQG  SRXQGV  his own people and resigned his command to Liam Deasy in 1922. .J DFFRUGLQJWRKLVDUUHVWUHFRUG*HRUJHVRXQGVOLNHDVNLQQ\ No insight is given into his decision to emigrate to America; all kid rather than a formidable IRA gunman but his intention had we know is that he was the last of his family to leave. EHHQWRFDUU\RIID/HH(Q¿HOGULÀHWRKHOSDUPWKHORFDOVTXDG 7KH*UHDW'HSUHVVLRQWXUQHGKLPLQWRDFRPPXQLVWEULHÀ\EXW Acquiring arms and then ammunition is a recurring theme in the KHUHWXUQHGWR,UHODQGLQWRFODLPWKH,5$VHUYLFHSHQVLRQ early part of the book as the only reliable way the Waterford vol- on his own and his comrades’ behalf. Subsequently he worked unteers could arm themselves was to steal weapons from their for the National Tourist Board until he became so disillusioned owners – a risky proceeding. with post-Treaty Ireland that he returned to America with his On his release, Lennon returned to the fray, becoming part of ZLIHDQGVRQLQ'XULQJWKLVVHFRQGSHULRGRIVHWWOHPHQWKH the Waterford Brigade. At length, Lennon became the leader of became a Quaker. When the Vietnam war broke out, he opposed DÀ\LQJFROXPQLQWKH&RPHUDJK0RXQWDLQVDQG2¶5HLOO\JLYHV LW+LVRSSRVLWLRQZDVEDVHGSDUWO\RQWKHSDFL¿VWYLHZVKHKDG a good account of the extent of the central control of these wild developed with the Quakers and partly from personal experience men exerted by the IRA in Dublin. George Plunkett – a staff as a guerrilla leader against an unpopular occupier. He had no RI¿FHUIURPKHDGTXDUWHUV±FDPHWRLQVSHFWWKHPDQGIRXQGWKDW GLI¿FXOW\LQIRUHFDVWLQJWKHRXWFRPHRI$PHULFDQLQWHUYHQWLRQ WKHLURFFXSDWLRQDOKHDOWKDQGVDIHW\ 2+6 SUDFWLFHVZHUHQRW It is a fascinating book, but perhaps too reliant on Lennon’s up to his high standard. Plunkett objected to the column’s ‘habit unedited diaries. They reveal an acute observer with a sense of of letting our small arms lie about any place’ – very punctilious humour and a keen conscience. But the book itself might leave indeed as the Volunteers complained! Instead of remonstrating the reader confused as it presumes a knowledge of the back- angrily, Plunkett would simply ‘..confront you with the gun say- ground of the events it covers, particularly during the the days ing urbanely “I believe you must have mislaid this.” – it was one of the Flying Columns. RIKLVPRVWH[DVSHUDWLQJKDELWV¶ S 2IFRXUVHKHPD\KDYH Felicity Allen, prolonged their active lives. Deputy Editor, Tinteán

 Tinteán March 2012 Ó Chogadh go Síocháin

Documentary/DVD Director & Producer, Cormac Morel; Editor & Co-Producer, Nicola Leddy; Production Assistants, Sinead Nolan & Karen Bracken; Sound, Sinead Finnegan; Camera, Daithi O’ Sullivan; Lighting, Maria Delahunty; Monastrevin Re-Enactment Group; Archive by Waterford County Museum & Sean Murphy; Produced with the help of Nemeton TV in 2011. The documentary Ó Chogadh go Síocháin – Saol George Lennon/From war to peace – a life of George Lennon was made by Cormac Morel with the help of Nemeton TV in An Rinn, the Gaeltacht (Irish Speaking) area of Waterford.

My own father would have been a con- temporary of George Lennon, although being four years younger, didn’t achieve the status of being a Flying Column commander. There are many paral- lels between the saga of heroism Terry O’Reilly weaves around the dashing exploits of George Lennon’s younger life and the stories of my father’s adventures with which he regaled us as children – one of the reasons why I enjoyed O’Reilly’s book so much and the documentary even more so. (George’s son Ivan only discovered many of his father’s youthful H[SORLWVDIWHUKLVIDWKHU¶VGHDWK Ó Chogadh go Síocháin – Saol George LennonZDV¿OPHGDVD¿QDO\HDUSURMHFW WRSURGXFHDPLQXWHGRFXPHQWDU\RI high enough standard for TV without any budget! It certainly has succeeded as a project and has already been aired by George Lennon and Roger McCorley (great grandson of Roddy McCorley), 7*,UHODQG 6%6$%&SOHDVHQRWH While the documentary follows a O'Connell St Dublin 1939 well-used and successful formula for documentary making, one is never photos, mostly of the Flying Column Even though I think that my prior overtly aware that this is so. The sto- days but also of his later life and the part reading of Rebel Heart enhanced my ryline is chronological and depends he played in setting up a Buddhist Zen enjoyment of it – it was like meeting old heavily on Terence O’Reilly’s account centre in Rocheter NY in later life. friends to see the events and characters of the life and times of the hero of Rebel Perhaps the most successful aspects of of the biography unfold on the screen, Heart. The voice over narrative is in the documentary were the ‘re-enactments’. – nevertheless the documentary stands English but segments of ‘talking heads’ These were reminiscent of scenes from in its own right as an authentic account interviews, with those who either knew WKH  .HQ /RDFK ¿OP The Wind that of George Lennon’s life and deserves a George Lennon or who knew of him Shakes the Barley. These scenes (with an wide audience. and the Flying Column he commanded (QJOLVKODQJXDJHYRLFHRYHU FDSWXUHGWKH Elizabeth McKenzie, in Waterford and the Comeragh moun- poignancy – co-lateral damage – that so Editor Tinteán tains were ‘as gaelige’, although sub- often accompanies hostilities particularly For further information nabout the titled in English. The interviews were between brothers and friends who are on distribution of the documentary contact interspersed with grainy but wonderful WKHRSSRVLWHVLGHVRIDFRQÀLFW Joe Kelly: [email protected]

Tinteán March 2012  Glenstal Abbot looks to artists in ecclesiastical crisis Underground Cathedrals Mark Patrick Hederman OSB, Columba Press, Dublin, 2010. ISBN 978-1-85607-695-1; RRP: €14.99

One of the major historical changes as a newly formed independent twentieth the role of ‘removing from the people in Ireland over the past twenty years century state in Ireland, our mental their freedom and responsibility for has been the withdrawal of popular architecture was consciously designed working out their own salvation, involvement in the dominant Roman and implemented. National identity was reducing them to infantilism and treat- Catholic Church. This is not just dis- expressed in symbols representing our ing them like children.’ illusion with the Church but angry Celtic heritage, the Gaelic language, The Abbot has been a champion of rejection of its place as a leading and the Roman Catholic religion. artistic expression. He is important, institution of Irish life, brought about These received state and ecclesiastical in my view, for being the first reader distinctively but not solely by the support. The questionable authenticity of James Joyce inside Ireland to clergy sex abuse scandals and episco- treat that literary master as fulfilling pal failure to deal meaningfully with a religious vision of existence, i.e., these outrages. There is an ongoing explaining that satire of Catholicism sea change, with a need to review its It is time for does not make you an anti-religious or causes and reconsider the future. An non-religious writer. It is Joyce who impressive aspect of this book by the the Abbot and celebrated the human body, in contrast Abbot of Glenstal Abbey is its primary to the hatred of the body expressed by concern with the people of Ireland and others to start the Church, such that the Abbot calls the shape of their future, rather than developing an Irish it Manichean. So it is not surprising with the woes of the Church. that Hederman’s appeal to the Spirit, Using the image of the cathedral liberation theology his solution to the impasse of the cur- to explain Christian history, Mark rent Church crisis, and the problems Patrick Hederman defines norma- of Irish identity, is through learning tive Catholicism as coming from two from artists, writers, and poets. That is main sources: St Augustine’s teach- of this cluster of symbols has much to the central argument of this book, that ings, symbolised by the Romanesque do with our current problems. ‘myopically cloistered Ireland’ must cathedral, and St Thomas Aquinas, Hederman is harsh in his description become open to the Spirit as revealed symbolised in the complete world- RI WKH  FRQVWUXFWLRQ RI *DOZD\ through these explorers of the imagi- view expressed in Gothic cathedrals. Cathedral. Dedicated in 1965, it was nation. Interestingly, in this respect he Although both theologians devel- ‘an object lesson in insularity,’ and ‘a offers the same advice given by Enda oped systems that were open-ended, gloomy monument … to our refusal McDonagh when that moral theologian the Church adopted their work as to emerge from the tomb of medieval spoke at the Irish Studies Conference definitive for Catholic doctrine, with a Christianity.’ The Vatican Council at Newman College in Melbourne resulting rigidity that gave little scope II, which ended in the same year, some years ago on the subject ‘Faith for new ideas and discoveries, a rigid- produced documents on liturgy that and the Cure of Poetry’. Both men are ity by the way not found in the spirit ‘rendered the shape, style, arrange- looking outside the church for those of enquiry displayed by the saints ment and settings of such buildings expressions whereby we may discern themselves. Hederman shows how obsolete and anachronistic.’ Across the activity of the Spirit. something was bound to give way. Europe churches in new styles were As well as praising contemporary In one sweeping chapter he explains being built with virtuosity and great DUWLVWVZKRGDUHWRH[SRVHWKHGLI¿FXOW what happened to poverty, chastity, theological awareness. This cathedral nature of Ireland today, or who attempt and obedience when addressed respec- image is pivotal in his discussion, as to present possibilities for the future, WLYHO\E\0DU[)UHXGDQG1LHW]VFKH it symbolises the unquestioned and +HGHUPDQ DOVR LGHQWL¿HV ROGHU DUWLVWV The Church’s own self-restricting unquestioning authority once enjoyed who have become prophets recognised positions, as dictated by Augustine by the Church in Irish society, but also in their own country. Louis Le Brocquy, and Aquinas, had turned these affirma- the inertia and even stagnation that can IRU H[DPSOH DQ DUWLVW YLOL¿HG E\ WKH tive virtues into rule-bound negations follow from such an overriding role. Dublin establishment in the 1950s, he of life. Nor did the Church have the It also informs his thinking on the says is ‘revealing the divine face which imaginative language or flexibility to sensitive subject of the Ryan Report, is the fundamental reality of who we are engage with our changing knowledge where he argues that the power to at our most creative and at our most per- of the universal, the social, or the act on abuse was impossible, while sonal.’ Brian Friel, that proclaimer and personal.Such Catholicism was bound for decades no one would have been revealer in the underground cathedral to be restrictive in such an isolated allowed to say anything against a known as the theatre, produces ‘life- nation. Hederman writes: priest, let alone question his integrity. support machines’ that may engender From the very beginning of our history For Hederman, the Church fulfilled religious experience. Hederman even

 Tinteán March 2012 Furphy Centenary Joseph Furphy, Australian novelist of Irish descent, died on 13 September in Fremantle (WA) 100 years ago. To mark quotes Friel, who discovered that ‘this But without individual discovery of the that premature loss, two events will ritual, this wordless ceremony, was now Scripture it is impossible properly to commemorate his achievement as one the way to speak, to whisper private and understand the sacraments, let alone the of the two great novelists of the c19, sacred things, to be in touch with some deeper religious meanings of our artists. and early twentieth century. His works otherness.’ Then Seamus Heaney, whom Basic ecclesial communities deserve to belong to the bush nationalist tradition Hederman says is ‘developing an alpha- be the subject of his next writings. but transcend it in many ways. He was bet of metaphysical archaeology and a Listening to the people should be a an early modernist, had some striking vocabulary to help us adapt to being in ¿UVW UHTXLUHPHQW RI D SULHVW DQG 0DUN views on the environment, on women, depth.’ The Abbot is realistic in saying Patrick Hederman is leading by example was a non-conformist in religious mat- that prophets before now have not been in this respect. He also understands bet- ters, spoke strongly against institutional received in their own country, point- ter than most that art and its making are religion. He was an utopian Christian ing to Yeats, Joyce and all who spoke signs of the spirit, a view strangely out socialist whose agenda on issues like in their generation of a more human of fashion in the relativistic postmodern race (especially in relation to the Irish, religion and a more open Ireland, only art world itself but not with those who Chinese and Aborigines) was very dif- to have their main message ignored by look at human expression to explain ferent from his Bulletin peers. A man and the majority. But Hederman praises and meaning and existence. Yet it has to be a writer to celebrate. enables, getting us to see hope in a time asked how art in all its forms can alone The fi rst event, a mini-conference of despair, for certainly he knows he change people’s sensibilities for the run by the Association for the Study belongs inside a church that is in per- better or make them more charitable of Australian Literature, occurs over manent crisis mode. This book comes towards others. There is too an implica- 12 days in late March when a posse of out of that understanding, informed tion here that expressions of the Spirit Furphy scholars will tour God’s Own though by a love both of church and of in Irish art are certainly good not only Riverina, Furphy’s soul country, giving the Irish nation. IRU¿QGLQJDQDWLRQDOIXWXUHEXWDIXWXUH papers and no doubt learning the dif- If questions must be asked of the inside the Church. Catholicism at its ference between lignum and mallee (if Abbot’s arguments, they go back to best has always gone to artists to explain you don’t know, you don’t deserve to ¿UVW SULQFLSOHV7KHUHLVIRUH[DPSOH faith and the whole book is written with call yourself an Australian, according no doubt that any church lacking an this attitude, this sensibility in mind, to Furphy, who was perhaps Australia’s understanding and proclamation of but I ask if Hederman is not at times fi rst eco-novelist). On the principle that the Gospel is not going to last long XQFRQVFLRXVO\HTXDWLQJWKHDI¿UPDWLYH there is no better place to discuss Such is and cannot really be called a church. pursuits of Roman Catholicism in this Life than in the midst of the landscapes Missing through most of his discussion regard with Irish national aspirations portrayed in it, the conference will see is any mention of Scripture, making and hopes, in ways that replicate the the ‘Bend in the Lachlan’, stay at stations one wonder just how removed Irish same error he is accusing 20th century like ‘Runnymede’, and explore the Wil- Catholics have become from the foun- Ireland of having committed. landra Billabong, in its attempt to trace dation of the written faith. Maybe it is Still, the Abbot wants his reader to some of the routes Tom Collins would time for the Abbot and others to start open her mind, to interpret her dreams. have taken driving his bullock wagon to developing an Irish liberation theology. He wants reader to get in touch with his Runnymede and beyond. Details of this Beggars can’t be choosers, as those feminine side, to become aware of his event will be provided by Susan Lever Latin Americans knew who went back unspoken desires to destroy that which ([email protected]). to their Bibles and began applying the speaks to his reality and to his hopes. The secon d event is a one-day semi- stories to their own conditions when He is writing not just to those still in nar on 14 September in Shepparton. adopting liberation theology practice. the church, but very especially to those Descendants of the Furphy family, who 7KH ,ULVK &KXUFK ¿QGV LWVHOI LQ D QRW who have left. He is in pursuit of what came originally from Tanderagee in Co. dissimilar position, where those who is called in the three-page poem that Armagh, are denizens of Shepparton. It remain do not trust hierarchies and opens the book, ‘The Truth of Poetry’, was in the famous Furphy foundry, run crave the living sources that created D SRHP ZULWWHQ RQ WKH  )HEUXDU\ by his more successful brother John, that D &HOWLF &KXUFK LQ WKH ¿UVW SODFH 2009 and handed to the Abbot by one Joe after an eventful variety of unsuc- Visiting Lough Derg is a good start Michael D Higgins. cessful careers was employed, and found and Hederman has an inspiring chap- Philip Harvey the leisure to write his three novels, only ter on how modern writers (Carleton, Philip is poetry editor of Eureka one of which was published in his life- 0F&DUWK\'HYOLQ.DYDQDJK+HDQH\  Street, a Melbourne poet, librarian at time. Information about this event can have used the famous pilgrimage site the Carmelite Centre, and a scholar be had from Susan Martin, La Trobe Uni- of Station Island as the place to recon- with a longstanding interest in Irish versity ([email protected]). nect with their Ireland, past and present. Literature. Frances Devlin-Glass

Tinteán March 2012  ‘Harvest Home’ near Molong. This photograph was brought by Mary Robinson, President of Ireland, as a gift on her state visit to Australia in 1992. Capturing the soul of the moment

E.E. O’Donnell SJ (ed.): Father Browne’s Australia, Wolfhound Press, Dublin, 1995. ISBN: 0 86327 443 9

Our old friend Fr Frank Browne SJ, photographer, has turned Brisbane and Queensland outback, Adelaide and Perth. As up again. Reviews of his edited works have appeared in Táin with all Fr Browne’s photos, one’s immediate impression is 2005 (Fr Browne’s Limerick  DQG LQ Tinteán 2008 (All our RI WKH VKDUS GH¿QLWLRQ WKH EHDXWLIXOO\ EDODQFHG DQG LQWULJX Yesterdays) and 2009 (The Annals of Dublin). The Allen fam- ing composition and the novelty and variety of many studies. ily of Dublin and Victoria, via our loyal contributor Patrick Of interest to Melburnians of a certain age, are pictures of the Morgan, has kindly made available to us this 1995 edition of Yarra River at Williamstown, 1 0D\RI)U+DFNHWW6- another study of this Jesuit photographer. Francis Mary Hegarty DQGDQRWKHURI)U$OEHUW3RZHU6-DW:HUULEHH&ROOHJH Browne was born in Cork in 1880, died in Dublin in 1960 and One of the most striking and meticulously composed photo- LVEXULHGDW*ODVQHYLQRIKLVQHJDWLYHVZHUHGLVFRYHUHG graphs is of two six-horse teams pulling gigantic hay-loads in in Jesuit archives by Fr E E O’Donnell SJ and, with the help of 16: DZRUOGDZD\IURP0RQHW¶VKD\VWDFNV ,WZDVWLWOHG Kodak, prints were developed and some twenty volumes of his Harvest Home and was brought by Mary Robinson, President pictures have been published. of Ireland, as a gift on her State visit to Australia in 1992. My At the outset, I feel compelled to repeat the story of the Titanic favourite is of Fr Browne with a group of drovers which is maiden voyage ticket that he was given by his uncle, the Bishop of the essence of the times and of Australia’s outback history. of Cloyne, in 1912, for Frank to board at Southampton, sail to This talented Jesuit priest understood Australia’s heart and soul Cherbourg and disembark at Cobh. The cruise was so successful and, like DH Lawrence, absorbed it all in a minimum of time. and he was so popular that his fellow passengers pleaded with This is a gift of the true artist. his Order to allow Frank to stay aboard for the Atlantic cross- This collection shows a British and white Australia, strug- ing, even offering to pay the expenses. But the Jesuit Provincial gling to recover from the slaughter of the First World War and ordered his disembarkation with a cable: ‘GET OFF THAT yet still relying on the invigorating ride on the sheep’s back. It is SHIP – PROVINCIAL’. I wonder if Frank ever forgave his boss. no fairy-tale and the pain and hardships are not avoided. It is a ,Q  KH ZDV VHQW WR $XVWUDOLD IRU KHDOWK UHDVRQV KLV valuable historical document. There is an informative introduc- gassing, in the war in 1918, affecting his lungs. He returned tion and brief biography by the editor and a succinct summary to Dublin in 1925 but in that time he travelled extensively in DQGDQDO\VLVRI$XVWUDOLDE\3URIHVVRU'DYLG'D\ Australia and this wonderful book has reproduced some 900 then of University College Dublin. We thank the Allen family copies of his pictures. They range from shipboard studies to for this privilege. images of Melbourne, Sydney and country New South Wales, Peter Kiernan

 Tinteán March 2012 Dreaming the Impossible Dream

Deirdre Irwin and Judith Perkins (eds): They Dreamed of Gold: A Pioneer Keegan Family of Australia, Deirdre Irwin, Varsity Lakes, 2011 www.derbfhine.com/?page_id=13 ISBN: 978 0 64654 311 6; RRP: see website above

As its subtitle suggests, this book is a collection of stories ried happily three times only to have each wife succumb to about a pioneer Keegan family in Australia. VHULRXVLOOQHVV)LQDOO\LQKHPDUULHGIRUDIRXUWKWLPH After painstaking research, the editors assess John Walter only to die himself just three years later. In 1910, Thomas .HHJDQDVKLSZULJKWWRKDYHDUULYHGLQ0HOERXUQHDJHG Michael Keegan won the seat of Glebe in the NSW Legislative from Dublin in 1851, but have been unable to establish how $VVHPEO\ DQG H[FHSW EULHÀ\ LQ  UHSUHVHQWHG *OHEH and exactly when he arrived. They are certain, however, that RU%DOPDLQXQWLOKLVUHWLUHPHQWLQ,QKHZDVWKH 0DU\$OLFH )ORRG DUULYHG DJHG  IURP (QQLVFRUWK\ &R Minister for Local Government in a Lang government. Wexford, on the New LiverpoolLQDVRQHRIWKH Veronica Mabel Keegan, daughter of Peter Keegan of ‘the Irish Famine Orphans. John and Mary married at St Francis’ ¿UVWJHQHUDWLRQ¶EHFDPH6U0DU\%HUFKPDQVRIWKH2/6+ &DWKHGUDOLQ$¿UVWFKLOG(OL]DEHWKZDVERUQLQ order and died in 2008, in her 100th year. Keith Denis Keegan, but died at six months. a grandson of Peter Keegan, became a Franciscan friar. In The book takes as its theme the following quotation from marrying John Foster, for whom Slim Dusty recorded his AR Chisholm’s translation of A Fauchery’s Letters from a song, ‘The Old Time Travelling Showman’, Eileen Keegan, Miner in Australia: ‘The gold mine: the goal of all hopes, the GDXJKWHURI3DWULFN.HHJDQRIµWKH¿UVWJHQHUDWLRQ¶MRLQHG GUHDPODQGZKHUHWKHVXQULVHV¶%\WKHJROG¿HOGVKDG the circus. Their family carries on the show business tradition lured John and Mary to the diggings of the to this day. Woady Yaloak district where for most of The book offers a warts-and-all picture the next 20 years John worked as a digger, of the inevitable misfortunes that befall or as a carpenter for mining companies. The Keegan tribe PRVW IDPLOLHV RI WKLV VL]H -RKQ .HHJDQ Except for brief stint in Ararat in 1858, Senior was found guilty in Shepparton WKH\UHPDLQHGLQWKH3LW¿HOGDQG5RNHZRRG moved to a Court of using threatening language and areas of the district until the birth of their Albert Keegan unfortunately died in the HOHYHQWK FKLOG LQ  7KH FKLOGUHQ new ‘dreamland Maitland Gaol. There are war service are recorded variously as being born at records and war tragedies, as well as fatal Brownsvale, Happy Valley, Western Creek, where the sun rises’ industrial accidents. Interspersed between and Bulldog (later renamed, not Footscray, all of this are tales of an extended family of EXW,OODEDURRN 7KHLUWZHOIWKDQGODVWFKLOG ordinary Australians going about their lives ZDVERUQDW6WDZHOOLQ as miners, carpenters, labourers, gangers, Of the 12 children, only eight, whom the editors describe butchers and many other callings, including in particular, DVµWKH¿UVWJHQHUDWLRQ¶VXUYLYHGWRDGXOWKRRG6DGDVWKLV wives, mothers and homemakers. might seem, it is a fortunate record for the age, given the The work has an extensive index and the liberal use of tent-city accommodation and the primitive support facilities photographs is a welcome feature. As editors, Deirdre Irwin in those early days of settlement. They Dreamed of Gold is and Judith Perkins, great granddaughters of James Keegan structured chronologically to focus on the fortunes of ‘the RIµWKH¿UVWJHQHUDWLRQ¶KDYHFRPSOHWHGDKHUFXOHDQWDVNLQ ¿UVWJHQHUDWLRQ¶DQGDOVRRQWKHOLYHVDQGFDUHHUVRIWKHLU compiling and collating the contributions of their team of fam- FKLOGUHQ µWKHVHFRQGJHQHUDWLRQ¶  ily correspondents. The recurrence of certain given names is During the ensuing 15 years, as gold mining work declined, distracting but inevitable, and at times the unfamiliar reader the Keegans moved as a tribe from place to place, usually can be confused by the repetition of some detail, but given coinciding with work to open or extend railway lines. During the multitude of contributing sources this inconvenience can this period the family were at Shepparton, Narrandera, be overlooked. Carrathool, Dubbo, Molong, and Carcoar. John Senior’s ser- And all of this sprang from humble beginnings on the gold- vices were also in demand, as a contract carpenter to build ¿HOGV DW:RDG\

Tinteán March 2012  Sons milled to feed insatiable Killing Fields

Sebastian Barry: On Canaan’s Side, Faber and Faber, London, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-571-27363-8; RRP: £16.99

It’s a weird thing to describe a book serve, in the small ways many humble out is not to suggest that this is a romantic about war as ‘beautiful’, but this novel, women do. It helps that she has a patron novel. It is not. I am often struck read- and Sebastian Barry’s A Long Long who resembles the Kennedy matriarch, ing Barry that he does women with such Way are just that, as is David Malouf’s in seeking to employ Irish exclusively. sympathy for the simplicities of domes- masterpiece, Fly Away Peter. They are Luck and chance play a great part in ticity which structure lives and give deep elegies that sing the praise of life. Like Lilly’s survival, but her dutifulness pleasure. Sentimentality is not in his rep- so many of Barry’s novels, these two makes her a valuable contributor to ertoire. To live is to endure, without any are linked. One senses that he draws on social amenity in the menial roles she consciousness of that as an heroic stance, IDPLO\KLVWRU\IRUPDQ\RIKLV¿FWLRQV IXO¿OV 7KH NH\ ZRUG %DUU\ XVHV WR or in any sense out of the ordinary. And to This particular novel is very gentle, characterise her is ‘assist’. In her eight- OLYHWKHIXO¿OOHGOLIHLVWRVHUYHDQGWREH spanning as it does three generations ies, she is called upon by a raddled and able to take pleasure in simple graces like RIZDUIRGGHUDQG¿YHZDUVDQGWHOOLQJ emotionally emptied-out son to mother cooking. Compared with this, the mind- its story from the point of view of the his child. She does this lovingly, never less destruction of generations of men in woman who loses four men to differ- for a moment imagining that she will successive wars in the twentieth century HQW ZDUV WKH NLOOLQJ ¿HOGV RI )ODQGHUV be called upon to bury him. Despite is insanity. It is in the world of women, which claim her brother and almost her the serial sadnesses of her life, Barry not in the world of victors, that salvation husband; the Troubles which pursue her ensures that the reader grasps the dignity is located. Black and Tan husband across the seas Perhaps one of the most moving por- to Chicago; the Holocaust which only traits in the book is that of Nolan, who just spares her grocer; Vietnam which comes to be a substitute husband for permanently traumatises a son, exclud- She has no the ageing Lilly and grandfather to the ing him from social intercourse; and a grandson. At the point of his death, very grandson who is ‘collateral damage’ as natural place in graphically and symbolically described, a result of not only service in Iraq, but he reveals his part in the second sig- three generations of men who cannot the social order. QL¿FDQW ORVV RI KHU OLIH ,W IXQFWLRQV DV express their emotions and who earn no a powerful parable of the relatedness of honour from their involvement in wars one’s enemy to oneself. It is impossible they go to in good faith, and for what to demonise an individual who acts like they see as good reasons. Ironically, the of this émigré and the simple reasons a friend, who becomes a friend. Abstract only male to survive the carnage is the she savours the milk and honey of the KDWUHG DQG LGHRORJ\ DUH QXOOL¿HG E\ UHPRWH,5$RSHUDWLYH¿QJHUHGWRNLOOWKH new Canaan. familiarity. Accidents of positioning on heroine, Lilly. There is much to celebrate in Lilly’s either side of a political binary are not This is a novel about emigrant life and America. Colour-blindness among the necessarily a life-script. about a woman who adapts to it because blue-collar workers is striking. When This is a book that I felt I wanted there are not many effective ways she Lilly’s bigamous husband’s African WR UHUHDG LPPHGLDWHO\ RQ ¿QLVKLQJ , can assert herself. She is a pawn in much blood manifests itself in the third genera- was perhaps lucky that it was a summer ELJJHU VRFLDO PRYHPHQWV ZKLFK GH¿QH tion, it is as if Lilly is unaware of it, and read, as there seemed to be the leisure her and which she barely comprehends. her friend Cassie’s difference is stimulat- to indulge this whim. Re-reading hot Her father serves as a policeman under ing and exciting, giving her access to RQWKHKHHOVRID¿UVWUHDGLQJZDVZHOO the British, and this makes her vulnerable ways of being that liberate her. Her love worth the investment of time. The novel when the transition to self-government and acceptance of her bloodline is totally is subtle and understated, and the story’s occurs. She has no natural place in the uncompromising, despite involving the twists are so unexpected that I needed social order. When her husband-to-be hurt of abandonment. What this author to know to what extent they had been becomes a Black and Tan after the Great so compellingly does is to build a case prepared for, for indeed they were. War, it is because he needs work rather that life is an inevitable decline and loss Whereas A Long Long Way was full of than because he adopts a self-conscious of innocence from youth to maturity poetic virtuosity, this one is stylistically political stance. Being a Black and Tan µEHIRUH«OLIHWDNHVGDUNQHVVWRLW¶ S  plainer (though not without its quotid- is enough to condemn him in the eyes of and that it is in the simple things of life LDQ SRHWU\  DQG DOO WKH PRUH PRYLQJ ideologues several generations removed that sacredness inheres – memories of the for that. It cumulates slowly; the central from Ireland. grey white of the hawthorn in April before character’s life of losses, none of her The miracle is that until her death at its white-white blossoming in May, or the RZQPDNLQJXQWLOWKH¿QDORQHLVUHSUH close to 90, she is passive, and yield- knowledge that fractious rooks mate for sented without melodrama or excess. I’d LQJ EXW QRQHWKHOHVV JDWKHUV VXI¿FLHQW life, or the ‘saving grace’ of a perfectly say, a must-read. support to survive and to continue to executed Hollandaise sauce. To point this Frances Devlin-Glass

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