2017 Spring Canadian Irish Studies
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Spring 207 NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS OF IRISH STUDIES Honorary Patrons HISTORIC VISIT OF IRISH PM TO IRISH STUDIES His Excellency Jim Kelly Ambassador of Ireland to Canada AT CONCORDIA Rt. Honourable Paul Martin Former Prime Minister of Canada TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY COMMENDS WORK OF SCHOOL Honourable Jean J. Charest Former Premier of Quebec Honorable Daniel Johnson Former Premier of Quebec Chair Pamela McGovern,* Montreal Vice-Chair Peter M. Shea,* Montreal Treasurer Gary O’Connor,* BComm 68, Montreal Honorary Secretary Katherine Peacocke,* Montreal Directors Jim Barriere,* Montreal Laurent Beaudoin, LLD 10, Montreal Brian Casey,* BA 60, Montreal Pictured are Christopher Deehy, foundation trustee; Patrick Shea, foundation vice-chair; André Roy, dean of the Faculty John Cleghorn, Toronto of Arts and Science; Roger Côté, vice-president of Services; Jim Kelly, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada; Taoiseach Enda Daniel Colson, London, U.K. Kenny; Jim Barriere, foundation trustee; and Michael Kenneally, principal. Peter J. Cullen,* Montreal Christopher Deehy,* Montreal Richard Drouin, Quebec City or the fi rst time in more than six decades, a sitting Irish prime minister has visited Montreal. On Peter B.M. Eby, Toronto May 4, 207, Taoiseach Enda Kenny had a breakfast meeting with members of the Irish Daniel Fournier, Montreal F Richard Hart,* Montreal community and senior Concordia administrators, as well as professors and students in the Lonsdale W. Holland, Halifax School of Irish Studies. Later in the day, the Montreal Chamber of Commerce hosted a lunch for Susan Kruger, Montreal Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Taoiseach Kenny, with a sold-out attendance of 500 Dr. John Little, Montreal community and business leaders. Paul Marion,* Knowlton Eric H. Molson, LLD 06, Montreal Speaking at the School of Irish Kate Molson,* Montreal Studies, Taoiseach Kenny stressed Stephanie Murphy,* Montreal the importance of the mandate David P. O’Brien, BA 62, Calgary of the School of Irish Studies, the Erin O’Brien, Montreal John O’Connor,* BA 62, Montreal need to teach Ireland’s history and Barney Powers, St. John’s share its rich culture with others. Donald Regan,* BA 70, Montreal “We have an important story to Catherine Richards,* Montreal tell and we ourselves fi rst need to Michael Shannon,* Montreal Honora Shaughnessy,* BA 71, Montreal understand it so that we can share James M. Stanford, BA 57, LLD 00, Calgary it with the world,” he said. Matthew R. Tedford,* Toronto William Wilson,* BComm 53, Montreal Representatives of more than Emeritus Chair 20 Montreal Irish associations, Brian O’Neill. Gallery, BA 57, LLD 0, including Patrick Shea, vice-chair Knowlton of the foundation, met with the Founding Chair Taoiseach. He was accompanied by Jim Kelly, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada, as well as Peter R. O’Brien, Montreal aides from several government departments. Concordia was represented by Roger Côté, vice- * Trustee president of Services, and André Roy, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science. In welcoming the 455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W. Taoiseach to Concordia, the principal of the School of Irish Studies, Michael Kenneally, thanked H-00 the Irish government for its ongoing support. He underlined that the creation of the school was Montreal, Quebec H3G M8 the result of a unique partnership between Concordia, members of the Irish community, and the Tel.: 54-848-2424, ext. 87 governments of Quebec, Canada and Ireland. Fax: 54-848-2866 [email protected] cdnirish.concordia.ca School of Irish Studies | cdnirish.concordia.ca GREETINGS FROM PAMELA MCGOVERN, CHAIR, CANADIAN IRISH STUDIES FOUNDATION his newsletter brings readers am pleased to report that the tradition of generous commitment Tand supporters news of all the continues with the current members of the board. academic events and achievements taking place at Concordia’s School It has been a time of transition for the foundation, yet what of Irish Studies. It has been an remains impressively constant is the enthusiasm and engagement eventful term, and on behalf of of our trustees. Current board members were active and our trustees and all our generous generous in their support of the Lúnasa concert (see page 4). donors, I congratulate the Several trustees even donated tickets so that students could attend deserving students, undergraduate this incredible musical experience. So I thank our exceptional and graduate, who have recently trustees for their participation and ongoing support of the foundation. Pamela McGovern been awarded scholarships and fee remission grants. It is a great pleasure for me to work with such committed The core mission of the Canadian Irish Studies Foundation (CISF) individuals as we strive to achieve our fundamental goal — the is to assist in the development of Irish Studies as an academic education of coming generations. discipline at Concordia. Central to that goal is to encourage –Pamela McGovern academic excellence and reward success. This support is possible Chair, Canadian Irish Studies Foundation because of the hard work of many trustees over the years, and I FOUNDATION WELCOMES THREE NEW TRUSTEES anadian Irish Studies Foundation chair Donald Regan is the Canadian Irish Studies Foundation as it CPamela McGovern welcomed the a Montrealer who continues to consolidate Irish studies as an following new trustees at the last meeting of earned a BA in academic discipline at Concordia. the board in March 207. economics in 970 Kate Molson from Sir George Erin O’Brien, (née Katherine Williams University, CFA, ICD.D, Brigid Finn) was one of Concordia’s is a member born into a large founding of Jarislowsky, institutions. Having Irish family in Donald Regan Fraser Limited Boston, hailing worked at various (JFL)’s executive from such Irish research and marketing projects at CN for committee. She is a names as Ward, over a decade, he joined Ronsco Inc. as a registered portfolio O’Toole and partner in 97. Headquartered in Montreal, manager with 30 Kate Molson Erin O’Brien Mahoney. Her Ronsco is one of North America’s largest years’ experience father’s grandparents emigrated from Ireland privately held suppliers of products and at JFL, one of Canada’s oldest and largest in the late 800s and settled in Boston. Her services to the freight rail, passenger and independent investment advisory firms. mother’s parents arrived in Connecticut in transit industries. Throughout this time she has worn many 930 from County Longford. In 984, Regan took full control of Ronsco, hats, including CFO and head of operations. Molson worked in a corporate capacity becoming chairman and president. He is She also manages foundation and private for 0 years, handling large business also chairman and president of Donnelgan client portfolios. accounts for AT&T and American Investments Inc., a real estate and private O’Brien is past president and currently Express. When her family relocated to investment company. a board member of Batshaw Youth and Denver, Colo., she settled into raising He has been a member of the Railway Family Centres Foundation in Montreal four children. Molson has served on a Research Advisory Board of the Railway and the Canadian Guild of Crafts. She has variety of committees, including those Association of Canada, and is past chairman more than 0 years of public company at Westmount, Que.’s Selwyn House of the Canadian Railway Club and past board experience at MRRM Inc., which was School and Villa Sainte-Marcelline, where president of the Canadian Association of purchased and privatized in 205. she and her team managed the school’s Railway Suppliers. He is a past president of largest fundraising initiative. Molson the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association. has also worked on various projects Regan has a wide variety of philanthropic with the Montreal Canadiens Children’s interests, including Irish Studies at Concordia. Foundation and Loyola High School. He looks forward to serving as a trustee of 2 | School of Irish Studies | cdnirish.concordia.ca SUMMER SCHOOL VISITING SCHOLARS or the first time, the School aureen Murphy, Fof Irish Studies will have an Mco-director of the intensive two-week summer course: undergraduate Irish Studies Evolution of the Irish Cultural minor at Hofstra University Landscape: 600-207. in Long Island, N.Y., will be The course runs from August 4 to the Peter O’Brien Visiting 24, 207, and is taught by Kevin Scholar at the School of Whelan, director of the Keough- Irish Studies for fall 207. Naughton Notre Dame Centre Maureen Murphy While at Concordia, in Dublin, Ireland. This course will Murphy will give a public use the Irish landscape as a text to lecture and teach two courses, Highlights of Irish explore the evolution of Ireland from the early modern period to the Literature and Irish Mythology and Folklore. present day. It will be interdisciplinary Congratulations to Emer Nic Labhraí, who has in focus, with a concentration on the been chosen as our Teagascóir Gaeilge and will be interaction of geography, history arriving at the School of Irish Studies in the fall to and literature. While in Montreal, teach two Irish language courses. Her position as Whelan will give a public lecture on junior visiting scholar is jointly funded by the Ireland Friday, August 8. More information will be posted on the School of Irish Canada University Foundation and the School of Irish Studies website closer to the event. Studies. Kevin Whelan cdnirish.concordia.ca GUS O’GORMAN IRISH LANGUAGE SCHOLARSHIP CONTINUES TO GROW ith the help of many donors, more than $26,000 has been recognition of all that O’Gorman did to promote the Irish language Wraised toward our goal of $50,000. This amount will generate and culture in Montreal and Canada. an annual scholarship of $2,500 to send a student each year to an Please join us in this eort. Your tax-deductible donation is an intensive Irish language course in Carraroe, County Galway, Ireland.