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Community Newslet ter of St . Patr ick’s Society of Montreal
IN
SID
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SavingtheFamineIrish:TheGreyNunsandtheGreatHunger.....................................
p.3•
McGillArchitectstudentsareuptothetask................................................................................
p.4•
Thankyou,Mr.President......................................................................................................................
p.6•
ComePartywithusatthetopofthecity......................................................................................
p.7•
UISDignitariesandAwardRecipients.............................................................................................
p.9•
LuncheonTime-who’sready?/LittleLapelPin-BIGVISION..............................................
p.12•
LúnasaFundraiserforIrishStudies.................................................................................................
p.14•
IrishWomen’sNetwork......................................................................................................................
p.15•
GusO’GormanIrishLanguageScholarship/CinéGaelwillbe25years.........................
p.16•
ABlackDayfortheKiwis....................................................................................................................
p.17•
Ireland-CanadaChamberofCommercecelebrates25years...............................................
p.18•
Fortheloveofcheese.........................................................................................................................
p.19•
2016-2017CALENDAROFEVENTS/CLÁRIMEACHTAÍ2016-2017......................................p.20
ByMartinaBranagan
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December2016Vol.29,Issue4
Mílebuíochasleat!Thanksamillion!
WhereIcomefrom,theysay“Bloodis thicker thanwater” implyingfamily
ties are the closest, the tiesthatbindwhen there
isnooneelse.Whenyou’remilesfromfamilyandthehomeland, it’s the Irish
in thegreatercommunity that creates the familyconnections.
IhadthegoodfortunetomeetDr.GusO’Gorman,anativeofSalthill,Galway,ÉireinMarch2003,attheIrishLuncheon,sixmonthsafterwelandedinMontreal.Idon’trememberwhosentmetohim.As
Iwasnudged inhisdirection, all
Irememberhearingwas“Ifanyonecanhelpyoubuildyournetworkhere,he’syourman.Heknowseveryone…”LittledidIrealizejusthowconnectedhewas,andhowimportanthewouldbecomeinmylifeandthatofourfamily.
Itwashardtogetawordinedgewisethatfirsttimewiththesmiling,bright-eyed,
athletic-looking,
silver-haired,keep-a-barrack-of-soldiers-in-chat,well-dressed
gentleman to whomeveryone seemed to be
gravitating.Heprobablyhadeveryimmigrantsenthisway!Duringourbriefexchange,welearnedwesharedacommunalbondin
our common language and Irishinterests.Hegavemehisbusinesscardand
introducedme tohis intelligent,arty, sporty, ladywife,
KarinAustin,startingamutuallylovingandrespectfulrelationship.
You are all aware ofGus’s professional
accomplishments(PaediatricNeuroradiologist,Directorof Radiology at
TheMontrealChildren’sHospitalandbusinessman);involvementintheIrishcommunity(formerPresidentoftheSt.Patrick’sSociety,instigator
forNuacht, 2001CommunityAward
recipient);supportfortheIrishlanguage(co-founderofComhrá)andloverof
literature (avolunteerdirectorof
theBloomsdayFestivalandamateuractorwithInfinithéâtre).Whatisamazingishow
cont.p.5
GusO’Gormanwithhiswife,KarinAustin
Photo:St.Patrick’sSociety
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AwordfromthePresident
December2016 2
NUACHT,CommunityNewsletterofSt.Patrick’sSocietyofMontreal
Production: MartinaBranagan(Editor) MauraDruda JimKillin
KenQuinn DaveSupleve Email: [email protected]
Advertising: E-mail:[email protected]
Printing: Centredecopiecommerciale 460St.CatherineStreetWest
Montreal,QCH3B1A7 Tel.:(514)842-2545
Subscription: $25.00peryear
PleaseaddressallcontributionstotheEditorattheSocietyOffice.Tel.:(514)481-1346Fax:(514)481-9048
E-mail:[email protected] St.Patrick’sSocietyofMontreal
St.PatrickSquare6767CôteSt.LucRoad,#1
Montreal,QCH4V2Z6www.spsmtl.com
Deadlineforsubmissionsfornextissue:January15,2017
ThisismylastnotetoallmembersoftheSocietyasyourPresident.Thepasttwoandahalfyearshavegonebyquickly,withalotofeffortandworkbytheExecutiveandBoard,tocreateawarenessandindeedincreasethevisibilityoftheSocietywithinthecommunity.IthasbeenmypleasuretoworkwithadedicatedgroupofindividualsandIthankyou.
Nuacht has been a lifeline to ourmembers and thecommunity over
the years.
Sadly,GusO’Gorman,whoenvisionedthenewsletter,andAnneForrest,ourdedicatededitor,bothofwhomhavepassedawaywithin
thepastmonth.Gus’s vision to createNuacht to keep the
Irishcommunityuptodatewithrelevantinformationwasstellar.Anne,wholiterallypushedeachandeverycontributorfortheirbestarticles,willbesadlymissed.
AllwhoattendedGus’sfuneralwereamazedandcommentedonapackedchurchastheIrishcommunitycametogethertocelebratehislife.Tobothfamilies,mysincerecondolences,bothGusandAnnewillbetrulymissed.
TheChristmasSeason isuponus and thatmeans comeJanuary, the Irish
seasonwillonceagainbe in full swing.Nextyearwillprove
tobeoneofexcitingchange for
theSociety.Markingthe375thAnniversaryofMontrealandthe150thAnniversaryofCanada,theSt.Patrick’sBallwilltakeonanewlookandlocation.Inthisissue,ScottPhelanoutlinesthechangeinvenuethatwillcreateaveryfestiveballontopofthemountain.ThiswilllaunchtheIrishFestivalforthe
monthofMarch.OursisterSocieties,theErinSportsAssociation,theUnitedIrishSocietiesandCineGaelareworkingtogetherundertheIrishFestivalBannertocreateawarenesswithinthecommunityofthestrongIrishrootsthatMontrealpossesses.StaytunedformoreinformationaswemoveintothemonthofJanuary.
Iwishtocongratulatethenewexecutiveandboardontheirelection.
Keepup thehardwork to enable the Society
tocontinuetosupportcommunityendeavoursandIrishgoals.
MerryChristmasandhere’stoagreat2017.
JimKillin,President2014-16
Wewould like to thank the
followingwhocontributedarticlesand/orphotostothisissueofNUACHT:
JimKillin ProfessorHowardDavies KenQuinn KevinWright(Bloomsday)
PaulDunne VivianDoyle-Kelly FergusKeyes StephenFogarty ScottPhelan
CarolMcCormick VictorBoyle MarionMulvenna O’GormanFamily
ProofreaderswantedIf anyone is interested in volunteering for
this task,
theProductionTeamwouldappreciateyourhelp.PleasecontacttheEditoratnuacht@spsmtl.com.
Community
AwardSt.Patrick’sSocietyiscallingfornominationsforits
annualCommunityAwardwhichwillbepresented
attheAnnualLuncheononMarch17,2017.
Seehttps://goo.gl/sb1RLBforcriteria,
list of former recipients, and to submit your
nominationviatheonlinewebform.
ApplicationdeadlineisJanuary13,2017at11:59pm.
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3 December2016
TheGreyNunshaveopenedtheirbuilding(138rueSaint-PierreinOldMontreal)tothepublictoviewthisexhibitiondaily,10amto4pm,exceptMonday.
Ifyouareattendingwithasmallgroup,aguidecanbearrangedtoprovideatouroftheexhibitionandthebuildingmuseumbycalling514-842-9411.
Photos:KevinWright
“SavingtheFamineIrish:TheGreyNunsandtheGreatHunger”
A5à7receptionwasheldOctober12thtoopentheeventinMontreal.InattendanceweremembersoftheMontrealIrishCommunity,anumberofGreyNuns,andspecialguest,Dr.
JasonKing.Dr.Kingwasoneofthecuratorsof
theoriginalexhibition.ACanadian,Dr.Kingcurrently livesin Ireland,
and isoneof themostknowledgeable academicson thehistoryof
theGreyNunsand theirsupportoftheIrishduringtheGreatHunger. Dr. King
gave a stirringspeech at the opening,
outliningtheGreyNuns’effort;thankingthemonbehalf of all
Irishdescendantsand offering strong support forthe efforts of
theMontreal Irish
MonumentParkFoundationtohaveagreenspacememorialparkbuiltaroundtheareaoftheBlackRock.
ByFergusKeyes
PaintingbyartistKarenBirdgenaw
TheMontréalIrishMonumentParkFoundationispleasedtopresentforthesecondtimethetravelingexhibition“Saving
the Famine Irish: TheGreyNuns and theGreatHunger”.On this occasion
it is housed at thebeautifulbuildingownedby
theTheSistersofCharityofMontreal,betterknownastheGreyNuns.Datingbacktothe1600s,thesepremisesarecurrentlythelivingquartersfortheGreyNunsaswellashometoamagnificentpermanentmuseum.
Theexhibition,previouslyonviewattheCentaurTheatre,i n c l u d e
s n u m e r o u sp l a c a r d s , m ap s , a n ddo cumen t s that
outlinethe h i s to r y of the GreyN u n s , a n d their effortst o
p rov i d e h e l p a n dcomfo r t to thepoor Irishe m i g r a n t
s who arrivedin the Por t of
Montreal,mainlyin1847.Morethan6,000oftheseemigrantsdiedandwereburiedaroundtheareaoftheBlackRocksituatedontheMontrealsideoftheVictoriaBridge.
ThisexhibitisondisplaytocoincidewithamirrorexhibitionbeingpresentedatGlasnevinMuseum
inDublin,
Ireland.ThedisplayinIrelandwasopenedrecentlybyIrishPresidentMichaelD.Higgins
andMinister forArts,Heritage,
andRegional,RuralandGaeltachtAffairs,HeatherHumphreys.KeydifferencesbetweentheexhibitioninMontrealandtheoneinDublinaretheEnglish/FrenchbilingualformatandthethreeveryhauntingandpowerfulpaintingsbylocalMontrealartist,KarenBirdgenaw.ShetookstoriesfromtheeventsofBlack‘47inMontrealandtranslatedthemintopaintings:AGreyNunandIrishChild;apriestperformingthelastrites;andoneindicatingthatthereareindeedbodiesburiedundertheBlackRock.
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November2016 4
ByFergusKeyes
TheMontrealIrishMonumentParkFoundationcontinuesitsefforttohavealllevelsofgovernmentcommittobuildingabeautifulgreenspacearoundtheareaoftheBlackRock.
ProposalsforthespacewouldincludebothanofficialGAAfieldaswellasabuildingthatcouldserveasamuseum/aMontrealIrishCommunitymeetingplaceand/orevenasmallTheatre.
In recentmonths,wewere contactedbyProfessorHowardDavies from
theMcGill University School of Architecturewithanoffer
tohavehisstudents,aspartof
theireducationprogram,designideasforthistypeofstructureandtheoveralldevelopmentofthisgreenspace.Ofcourse,wewerethrilledwiththisproposal!
Photos:ProfessorHow
ardDavies
McGillArchitectStudentsareuptothetask!
OnThursday,November3rd2016,ProfessorDaviesinvitedVictorBoyleandmyselftoviewsomeoftheideaplansthatarestill“worksinprogress”.
Wewereamazedatthelevelofcommitmentwewitnessedin
theseefforts.Thestudents researched
thehistoryandarea.Theyallpresentedprojectswithagreatlevelofrespectforthishistorical,cultural,andindeedsacredspace.Theirenthusiasm
forandexplanationof
theirvariousprojects,about20differentideasintotal,wereabsolutelyinfectious.
Itisdifficulttoknowatthistimewhetheradevelopmentofthiskindwillbecomearealityinthefuture,butifthisspaceshouldeverhousesuchastructure,wearecertainlynotatalossforideasthankstoProfessorDaviesandthesestudents.
ProfessorDavieswithhisstudents
VictorBoyle,AOH,enthralledwiththe“worksinprogress”
LotsofgreatideastochoosefromtomaketheCultural-InterpretiveCentreareality
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Mílebuíochasleat!
Itreasurethetête-à-têteswehad–wecouldtalkaboutanythingandeverything.Iknowitwasveryhardforyou,Gusoverthelastwhileasthemechanicsofthevesselwerenotkeepingpacewithyouragile,enquiringmindandstrongwill,forcingyoutoadjustyourbikeforinstance.Inhindsight,yourwhisperedironiccommenttomeatthelastparty
I attended
inyourhomebeforeyouwentonyourbarge-cyclingtourwithKarinshouldhaveforewarnedme.IheardyoubutIfobbeditoffwithaloudlaugh,chalkingituptotheIrishsenseofhumouragain.Isdóchagobhfuiltúfósaggáireardobhealachféin,achara!
Chaillmém’athair altramaagus chaill
napáistíseanathairaltramanuaira thit tú
idochodladhbuanDéCéadaoinseocaitean27úDeireadhFomhair2016.Níbheidhdoleithéidarísann!Beidhcumhaormidodhiaidh.Tásúilagamgombeidhtusuan,suaimhneachgodeo.GondéanaDiatrócaireard’anam!Slántamall!
5 November2016
(cont.)
manyhoursthereseemedtobeinGus’sday!Evenwhenhehadretired,heworkedpart-timeattheShrinersHospital,WestmountSquareMedicalImaging,andinresearchatTheChildren’s,makingtimeforcycling,golf,cross-countryskiing,Irishsports’competitions,fund-raising,theatre,travelandreading.A
loverofpoetry,hecouldrecitepagesofYeatsfrommemory!Forsuchagiftedman,hewasneverboastful.Idiscoveredallthisatparties,fromguests,attheLaurentianLodge,atIrisheventsorjustwatchingthethespianonstage.
IlovedtalkingtoGusasGaeilgeorinEnglish;hewasgreatcompany, very
open, positive,witty and
encouraging.Patienttoo–Iknow,wegotlost,lateoneeveningreturningfromtheIrishEmbassyinOttawaandalthoughIwasdriving,heblamedhimself.Itwashisironicsenseofhumourthatmademefeelso“athome”.
Whenwebecameparents,hewithhiswife,Karin,welcomedeachchildintotheirextendedfamily,assisteduswithfindingapaediatrician
for them, calmedmedownwhen
Iwasscaredfortheirwelfareandthroughsharinghisexperiencesofbeinga
father,he impartedvaluable lifelong lessons.Whenever
Isoughthelporcounsel,hewasalwaysthere.
GuswithLynnDoyle
GuswithProf.MichaelKenneally
Photo:St.Patrick’sSociety
Photo:St.Patrick’sSociety
Mediation: Justice of the Future Seminar & Lunch
Friday, January 20, 2017
12:00 – 2:00 $10.00
Richard McConomy - BCL (McGill)
Pierrette Sevigny – Q.C, Judge & Retired Attorney CONFLICT
RESOLUTION CENTER
St. Patrick Square
6767 Cote St. Luc Road (Entrance via King Edward)
Please phone to register your participation. 514-481-9609
Photo:KenQuinn
Photo:KenQuinn
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December2016 6
Onabeautiful springevening in2014,membersof
theSt.Patrick’sSocietyofMontrealassembledatL’EspaceCanalinSaint-HenritowelcomeJimKillinasitspresident.Oneofthesignsofasuccessfulpresidency,inmyestimation,isthestabilityofthecompositionoftheBoard.DuringJim’stimeatthehelmtherehavebeenfewdepartures.However,whentheyoccurred,
thevacancieswerequicklyfilledwithmemberseagertocontributetotheSociety’ssuccess.
IgottoknowJimabouteightyearsago,whenhewasemployedbyL’EquipeurandheandthecompanybecameaSt.Patrick’sParadesponsor.Astheyearsprogressed,Ilearnedafewthingsabouthim.He
isaquietdiplomatwhowould rather
reachadecisionbyconsensusthanthroughtheformalitiesofameeting.Whensomethingneedstogetdone,Jimiswillingandabletorolluphissleevestomakesurethejobisdone.
InadditiontoJim’sassociationwiththeIrishcommunity,heispassionateaboutourCanadianmilitary.InJanuary2016,JimwasappointedtheHonoraryColonelof3WingBagotville.HeservedasHonoraryColonelof425TacticalFighterSquadronfrom2011-2015andwashonouredbythe431DemonstrationTeamin2011bybeingnamedanHonorarySnowbird.
Drivenbyhiscommitmenttogivebacktothecommunity,JimisactivelyinvolvedwiththeCanadianAviationHeritageCentre.ThecentreistheonlyoneofitskindinQuebeccombiningcivil
Thankyou,Mr.PresidentByKenQuinn
andmilitaryaircraft,artifactsandmemorabilia.Located
inthehistorical“OldStoneBarn”ontheMacdonaldCampusofMcGillUniversity
inSte-Anne-de-Bellevue, this
fascinatingfacilityhasthefullsupportofmanyestablishedculturalandeducationalorganizations,includingtheCanadaAviationandSpaceMuseumandMcGillUniversity.
IbelievethemostrewardingprojectJimhasworkedonisAirCanada’s“DreamsTakeFlightprogram”.Hehashappilybeenassociatedwiththisprogramformorethan20years,taking170physically,sociallyandhandicappedchildrenannuallyfromtheQuebecregiontoDisneyWorldforaday-atrulylife-changingexperienceformanychildren.
On topofhisothercommitments, Jimhas led thisgreatorganization
for slightlymore than twoyears.Oneofhisfocuseswas to increase
theSociety’svisibilitywithinandoutsidethecommunity.Inmyestimation,dueinlargeparttohis
stewardship, theSociety
ismorevisibleandactiveinendeavourswithinthecommunityand
isbetterknownoutside.
OnbehalfofallOfficersandDirectorswhohaveservedunderJim’sleadership,andonbehalfofallmembers,wethankJimforhiscommitmenttotheorganizationandforhisloyalanddedicatedservice.
Photo:KenQuinn
Photo:KenQuinn
RayBassett,JimKillinandtheambassador’swifePatricia
ChristieBrown,FergusKeyes,PatriciaBassett,formerAmbassadorRayBassettandJimKillin
JimKillinwithMayorDenisCoderre,TheLuncheon‘16
Photo:RoyalCanadianAirForce,Canada
Photo:KenQuinn
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7 December2016
Foundedin1642,Montrealisknownaroundtheworldforthemountainintheveryheartofthecity:MountRoyal.In2017,wecelebratethehistoryandthefutureofthecitythatsurroundsthatlandmarkheritagesite.TokickoffMontreal’s375thyear-longbirthdayparty
inappropriatestyle,theSt.Patrick’sSocietyispreparingtohostthepartyoftheyearonMarch3rdatopMontreal’ssummit.
HonoraryCo-Chairs,theHonorablePierretteSévignyandMaîtreRichardMcConomy,youarecordiallyinvitedtojoinusonFridayMarch3rd2017atthesummitofourgreatcity.
Pleasesavethedate!Visitourwebsiteatwww.spsmtl.comformoreinformationandtopurchasetickets,orcontactusthroughourofficeat514-481-1346.
InhonourofMontreal’s375thanniversary,wearelimitingthenumberofticketsto375.Sogatheryourfriendsandbookyourtablesearlyastheywillselloutquickly.
WelookforwardtoseeingyouforanoutstandinganduniquecelebrationofourSociety,ofMontreal’sIrishheritageandtrulytheheritageofallMontrealers,whilebenefittingmanyworthycauses.
ComepartywithusatthetopoftheCity!ByScottPhelan
TheAnnualSt.Patrick’sSocietyCharityBall,Canada’soldesteventofitskind,willbeheldthiscomingyearattheelegantandbeautifully
redecoratedChaletat theLookoutofourbelovedMountRoyal.
Our special guests for this special editionBall
includeIreland’snewestAmbassadortoCanada,HisExcellencyJimKelly,whowillbeaccompaniedbyhiswifeAnneMartin.Asisfittingforsuchahistoricalcelebration,MayorDenisCoderre,whoremainsatruefriendofMontreal’sIrishcommunityandwhoseownrootsextendbacktotheEmeraldIsle,willalsobeinattendancewithhiswifeChantaleRenaud.
ThisyearwewillberaisingfundsfornotonlytheSt.Patrick’sSociety’sowncharitable,educationalandculturalendeavorsbutalsoforoneofMontreal’sworthyandiconicnon-profitinstitutions,
TheWest
IslandPalliativeCareResidence.Fittingly,ourHonoraryCo-Chairforthisyear’sBallwillbeTeresaDellar,itsfounderanddirector.Alongwithherfellow
Thespacious,heatedChaletbythearchitectAristideBeaugrand-Champagne
Photos:LesAmisdelaMontagne
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December2016 8
ByStephenFogarty,immigrationattorney
CanadianImmigrationNews–December2016
NewCanadianpassportrequirementfordualCanadiancitizens
If youareplanning to returnhome to Irelandor to
theUKovertheChristmasholidays,takenotethatifyouareadualCanadiancitizenandusedtoreturningtoCanadabyairwithanon-Canadianpassport,asofNovember10thyounowneedavalidCanadianpassporttoboardyourflightbacktoCanada.Toavoidproblems,bringyourCanadianpassportwithyouwhiletravelling,andrenewitimmediatelyifithasexpired.
Exception:IfyouareanAmerican-Canadiandualcitizenwitha
validU.S.passport,
youdon’tneedaCanadianpassporttoflytoCanada.However,youwillstillneedtocarryproperidentificationandmeetthebasicrequirementstoenterCanada.
Thisnewpassport requirementcoincideswith
theneweTA(electronictravelauthorization)rules,whichfinallycameintoforceinNovember,andwhichwerepreviewedinmySeptemberNuachtarticle.
FormerAmbassadorBassettpraisesCanada
Inhis letter to theeditorof The Irish
TimespublishedonNovember21st,entitled“Canada,ouroldreliablefriend”,Dr.RayBassettremindedreadersoftheimportantroleCanadahasplayedovertheyearssupportingIrelandandwelcomingtheIrish,includingduringhisrecenttermasAmbassadorofIrelandinOttawa.ThiscontrastswiththehistoricalroleplayedbytheUSA,whichDr.Bassettdescribedas“farlesssympathetic.”Dr.
Bassettcontinues:
“Yetthere isvery littleappreciation in
IrelandofCanada’slongrecordofhelpingthiscountry.SoletusstopmoaningandbeingindespairabouttheTrumpvictoryandlook,likemany
liberal Americans, to the north of theAmericancontinentand focusa
lotmoreofoureffortsonouroldreliablefriend,Canada.”
TheTrumpeffect
SpeakingofPresident-electTrump,onNovember8th,USelectionnight,
theCanadiangovernment’s
immigrationwebpagecrashedduetoanunprecedentedsurgeofInternettraffic.InterestinCanadaasapossiblepermanentdestinationcontinuesatahighlevelfrommanyAmericans.
Whatdoesthismean?Ifyouareplanningtoapplytorenewyourworkor
student status,or
tobecomeapermanentresident,considerthattherearelikelytobeahighernumberofcandidatesthaneverinthepoolofapplications.Quotasarethus
likelytofillmorequickly,andapossible
increaseintheoverallqualityofcandidatesmaymake
ithardertoqualifyforsometypesofapplications.Hencethereasontoensurethatanyapplicationsarepreparedcorrectlytoavoiddisappointment.Itisalwaysprudenttohaveanimportantapplicationregardingone’sstatusinCanadareviewedbyalicensedprofessionalwhoroutinelyhandlessuchmatters,beforesubmittingittotheauthorities.
ThanksAnne!
This article isdedicated to
thememoryofAnneGaynorForrest,whoacted as eagle-eyededitor
formyNuachtarticlesoverthepastseveralyears.ShelastemailedmeaboutNuachtmattersontheeveningofNovember16th,justafewdaysbeforeherdeath.AnnewasalsoagreathelpinseveralprojectswhileIservedasvice-presidentandaboardmemberoftheICCC.Thanks,Anne.
StephenFogartyisanattorneyassistingclientstosecuretheirfuturesinCanada,inCanadiancitizenshipandimmigrationlawapplications,aswellasprovidingspeciallegalservicesformusicians,atFogartyLawFirminMontréal.Hemaybecontactedthroughhisfirm’swebsitewww.fogartylaw.ca.TheviewsinthisarticleareStephen’saloneandnotthoseofanyotherpersonororganization.Thisarticleisforinformationpurposesonlyandisnotintendedtogiveortoreplacelegaladvice.
Photo:http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/passport/
Dr. Ray Bassett receiving an Honorary LifetimeMembership Award
to The Irish Canada BusinessAssociation inMay2016with
fellowrecipients,MrBillKyle,CEO,IrishLifeGroupandMrRobertAtkinson,former
AirCanadaGeneralManager,Ireland&UK.
Photo:http://www.geoscience.ie
... focus a lot more of our efforts on our old reliable friend,
Canada.”
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9 December2016
UISDignitariesandAwardRecipients
OnNovember16,2016,theUnitedIrishSocietiesannouncedthedignitariesandawardrecipientsforthe194thSt.Patrick’sparadewhichwilltakeplaceonMarch19,2017.
Photo:UnitedIrishSocieties
Photo:VilledeMontreal
Hon.DenisCoderrePC,MayorofMontreal
SisterDiannaLieffersnds
GrandMarshal
ChiefReviewingOfficer
SimonMcDonaughHumanitarianAward
LiamDalyHeritageAward
IrishmanoftheYear2017
TheIrishmanoftheYearasselectedbythemembersoftheErinSportsAssociation,
isAndrewFogarty, apastpresidentof
theSt.Patrick’sSociety.FindoutmoreatTheBreakfast.
Photo:St.Patrick’sSociety
AndrewFogartywithJimKillin
Richard“Ricky”Clahane
This“AngelofLove”isreveredforherforty-oneyearsofdedicatedandlovingservicetoSt.Gabriel’sParishcommunity.
Timeknowsnoboundsas
shecares“hands-on”atthefoodbank,furnitureandclothingprovisionprogram,preparingChristmasbasketsandmorerecently,fund-raisingfortherepairsneededforSt.Gabriel’sChurchandrectory.
TracinghisrootsbacktoCo.Cavan,Mr.Coderre
ledanIrelandCanadaChamberof Commerce initiated tripto Ireland
in2015, returning
toCanadawithahistoricFriendship&CooperationAgreement,makingMontrealandDublinsistercities.“Deeplyhonoured”tohavebeenchosen,Mr.Coderresaid“AsMayorofMontrealandnow2017GrandMarshal,
it iswithgreatpride I
sharemydeepestloveofmyIrishheritageasItakepartinoneofMontreal’soldesttraditionsandthelongestrunningSt.Patrick’sParadeinCanada.IrishheritageisanundeniablepartofMontreal’shistory,asreflectedonourCity’sflag,andIamconvincedthatthe2017Paradewillbeoneofthehighlightsofthe375thanniversarycelebrations.”
ByMartinaBranagan
AnativeofPointSt.Charles,theentertainer,Mr.Clahanehasperformedatvariousparishconcertsandcabaretsinsupportofmanyfundraisers.Consistentlyaccommodatingrequests,
he has supported, amongothers, his
sisterGeraldineinperformingfortheVictoriaParkSchool,nowREACHSchool;
seniors residences inour
communities;playedtheroleofSantaformanyachildinneedandatLiamDaly’sbehest,performedregularlyontheIrishShowduringtheSt.Patrick’sDayandChristmasseasons.
Erin sports provides charitable assistance, inmostcases
anonymously. Theyhold annual events such
asaChildren’sChristmasparty,asummerSantapartyat
theMontreal Children’sHospitaland an annual BBQ in benefit ofSt
Gabriel’s Parish. For over 30years, their responsibility for
theIrishmanoftheYearBreakfasthasallowed them to give back
over$500,000todifferentorganizationsintheVerdun,Lasalle&SouthwestboroughsofMontreal.
Photo:UnitedIrishSocieties
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December2016 10
OnTuesdayNovember 8 2016 at 8pm, Pádraig Pearsewasputon
trialatSt.Gabriel’sParishHall,Montreal.
InassociationwithNewpointPlayers,
Ireland,AnthonyRussell’snewplay“TheTrialofPádraigPearse”examinedthecaseforandagainstPearseandhisroleintheEasterRising.Inthis“CourtOfHistory”,PearseisdefendedbyJohnMitchell(1815–1875),aphysicalforcerepublicanandformerYoungIrelandcomradeofThomasD’ArcyMcGee.TheprosecutionispresentedbyD’ArcyMcGee,theIrishrebel,CanadianpatriotandFoundingFatherofCanadianConfederation,whosuggestedthatthe1916Risingwasundemocraticandunnecessary.
WhyMontreal?InApril2016,ThomasD’ArcyMcGeeSummerSchoolDirectorTommyFegan,whilevisitingtheGreyNunsExhibitinDublin,described
tocuratorDr. JasonKinghisplans tobringaplaycalled
“TheTrialofPádraigPearse” toWinnipeg foraweekinNovember. King,
impressedby the support of the
IrishcommunityinMontrealforallthingsIrishincludingthe“SAVINGTHEFAMINEIRISH:THEGREYNUNSANDTHEGREATHUNGER”exhibition,
insisted that Tommy contactMontreal. As
thefundingapplicationtotheIrishgovernmentrequireda“Letterof
Invitation” froma recognized
IrishOrganization.NationalPresidentVictorBoyleprovided the
letteronbehalfof theAncientOrderofHiberniansCanada.
WiththeTrial requiring
localactorsFergusKeyes,DirectoroftheMontreal
IrishMonumentParkFoundationand longtimeorganizeratPointSt.Charles,
togetherwithPeggyHopkins,stepped in to provide the actors andhelp
in every
otherdetail,fromthepublicitytothevenueselection.TheintimateatmosphereoftheParishHallofSt.Gabriel’sChurchwasselectedasthecourthouse.
TheTrialTheplayopenedwithmusicbyGerryO’Connor,fiddleplayerwith
the IrishRovers,before the jurywas regaledwith theincredible
andhistorically correct
evidenceasprovidedbyD’ArcyMcGee(playedbyPatrickMcGennity,Ireland)andJohnMitchell
(playedbyDonalO’Hanlon, Ireland)with
testimonybyPádraigPearse(playedbyJosephBegley, Ireland),andhis
PádraigPearseontrial-thenarrowestmarginsofarByFergusKeyes
Includesexcerptsfromtheofficialpressrelease
motherMrs.Pearse(playedbyDianeRussell,Ireland).BrentTyler,wellknownMontrealhumanrightslawyer,wastypecast
in theroleof judge;Dr.
JohnLawson,executivedirectoroftheBQBC,embodiedthecourtclerk;andPastPresidentoftheSt.PatrickSocietyandwellknownmemberof
the Irishcommunity,PeterSheawas theperfect
juryforeman,keepingcontrolovertherowdyJury.
Thearrivingaudience(jury)wasgreetedbybothMcGeeandMitchell,formallyandincharacter,providingadviceastotheirconductandthefactstobepresented–puttingthemincharacteraswellandreinforcingthecourtatmosphere.
Withonecontentiousargumentafteranotherpresentedbyeachsideofthecourt,abriefrecesswascalled.Whenoneofthejurorsinterruptedtheproceedingsbyrushingtothefloorshoutingaccusationsofanunfairtrial,hewasejected.Soonafterreconvening,theJudge,afterasummationofthefactsandprovidingthejurywithappropriateinstructions,handedovertoforemanSheafordeliberations.AsforemanSheaprovidedopening
remarkshewas
interruptedbyajurorshouting,“Wedon’tneeddeliberations,weneedaropetohangthattraitor!”Thencounteredanotherretort“Onlyablindmanwouldnotseethatheisinnocent!”asargumentsbrokeoutbetweenmembersofthejury.Intheend,Pearsewasfound“NotGuilty”butbythenarrowestmarginsofar.
What’snext?Russellisdevelopinganew-andperhapsmorecontentious-playfornextyear.MontrealwillsurelybeastopontheCourtofHistory.Lookingforwardtoseeingyouthere.
Photos:VictorBoyle
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11 December2016
TheSt.Patrick’sSociety’sAnnualGeneralMeeting
tookplace,TuesdayNovember29th.startingat6:30followedbytheChristmasReceptionattheSt.JamesClubonthecornerofRenéLévesqueandUnionStinMontreal.
TheoutgoingPresident,JimKillinandtwootherDirectors,LyndaMcAssey-PremerlandKarenBright,werethankedfortheir
service to theSociety.
JimremainsontheExecutiveCommitteeasImmediatePast-President.
ScottPhelanandPatrickShortwerewelcomedonto theExecutive
Committee as President andVice
PresidentrespectivelywithVictorBoyle,DavidDubeau,andConorO’HaraasnewDirectors.
KatieIrvingwasintroducedastheSociety’snewAdministrativeAssistant.SheissomeonemanyintheSocietyalreadyknow.TheExecutiveCommitteelooksforwardtoworkingwithKatieIrvingassheassumestherole.
ByMartinaBranagan
JimKillinandScottPhelanthankedErinMathesonforallshehasdoneforthesocietyovertheyearsandwishedher
wellinhernewcareer.
AnnualGeneralMeetingandChristmasReception
ScottPhelan,President PatShort,Vice-President
CindyMoynan,CarolMcCormick,PaulDunne,ErinMatheson,ChristieBrown,KevinMurphy,JimKillin,LaurieBennett,Paula
Kelly-Phelan,ScottPhelanandRobertaBennett
PresidentScottPhelanpresentsJimKillinwithagiftonbehalfofallthemembers
DepartingDirectorLyndaMcAssey-PremerlisthankedforherservicetotheSociety.
Newmemberswereintroducedandarepicturedbelowwiththeexecutives.
Siamsaprovided foot-tappingentertainmentafter
theAGMtoaveryappreciativeaudienceofcurrentandnewmembers.
Siamsa-Merci/Goraibhmaithagaibh!
Photos:KenQuinn
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December2016 12
Dearreaders,YoumightthinkitisalittleearlytostartpromotingtheSaintPatrick’sSocietyofMontreal2017Luncheon,whichtakesplaceonSaintPatrick’sDay
itself.The reality is that it isnever tooearly. Last year’s
successful luncheonwasachieved for twomainreasons:
1.Thehardworkandthetimethecommittee
investedtomaketheLuncheonawonderful eventforallthoseinattendance,
2.Equallyimportant,ifnotmore,isYOU!Your
attendance,yoursupportattheLuncheonis
whatmakestheluncheonasuccessyearafteryear.
Last year,many favorable commentsweremadeabout
thevenue,themeal,theentertainment,theGuestSpeaker,MayorO’CoderreandthegreatintroductionbyJohnRae,SeniorVicePresident,PowerCorporationofCanada.Morethan500peopleattendedthatday!
Thoughpeoplecameawayfromthelunchwithsmilesontheirfacesandgoodmemoriesoftheday,wecameawaywithapoorfinancialresultaftertheday’sevent.
Everyyearwestrivetomakeitbetterthanthelast,and2017willbenodifferent.Weareinthefinalstagesofconfirmingourvenue,themenuandourguestspeaker.Wearealsolookingatpossiblenewadditionstotheprogramtomakeitevenmoreexciting.
Butweneedyourhelp.First,circlethedateonyourcalendarandmakesuretoattend.Second,invitefamilyandfriendsandstrivetoformatableof10.Corporatetablesarealsoextremelyimportant.Sponsorshipthisyearisamusttodefraythecosts.Wewillhaveaprogramandinvitecompanies,associationsandotherstoadvertisewithus.
TheSaintPatrick’sSocietyofMontrealLuncheonisoneofthreemajoreventsinthesociety’syear,aimedatraisingfundstohelpthecommunity.
Pleaseassistusachievethatgoal
in2017byattendingtheluncheonandsupportingitinanywayyoucan.
Lookingforwardtoseeingyouthere.
Luncheontime-who’sready?
TheMontreal IrishMonument Park Foundation
hasdesignedandproducedasmallnumberofprojectsupportlapelpins.ThemainimageistherustedshamrockfromthefencearoundtheBlackRockwiththenumber1847atthetop,theyearthatmarksthegreatesttragedy,and6000+atthebottomrememberingthenumberofvictimsthatdiedandwereburiedinthearea.
Thefoundation isnowofferingtosendyouoneof
thesepinswitheverydonationof$10.00ormore.
Theaimisthatthesepinsbecomea“conversationstarter”.“Ourhopeisthatifyouarewearingoneofthesepins,otherpeople,
(friendsand familiesetc.)mightaskyouwhat
itmeans.ThiswouldgiveyoutheopportunitytotalkaboutoureffortstobuildagreenspacearoundtheBlackRocktohonourthevictims;theMontrealersthatwenttohelpthem;andthemanycitizensthatadoptedtheorphans.Themorepeoplethatareawareandsupporttheprojectthebetterchanceithasofbecomingareality!”
So,ifyouwouldliketodonate$10.00ormoretotheproject,andreceiveoneofthesepinsasa“ThankYou”,pleasevisittheMonumentParkFoundationwebsiteat:
http://www.montrealirishmonument.com/orgodirectlytotheLapelPinpage:
http://www.montrealirishmonument.com/lapelpin
ByCarolMcCormick
LittleLapelPin-BIGVISIONhttp://w
ww.m
ontrealirishmonum
ent.com/lapelpin
ByFergusKeyes
Lapelpin“conversationstarter”
CarolMcCormickChairperson,SaintPatrick’sSocietyLuncheon
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13 December2016
AnneGaynor-ForrestdiedonSundayNovember20,2016aftera
long,hardbattlewithcancer.TheSt.Patrick’sSocietywishestoofferitsdeepestcondolencestoIan,herfamily,manyfriendsandcolleagues.
Shewillbefondlyrememberedbythegreatmanypeoplewhoselivesshetouchedinsomanydifferentways.Ihadtheprivilegeofmeetingalovinggroupoftheminthelobbyofthepalliativecarecentrewheretherewasaconstantstreamofvisitorswhofeltveryclosetoher.
AgenteelEnglishwomanwithakeeneyefordetailandacameraattheready,she
willbesorelymissedbytheIrishcommunitymostespeciallytheSt.Patrick’s
Societywhereshewaseditorfor“Nuacht”andthe
ICCCforherassistanceincommunications.Inallour
collaborations,shewasalady,kind,sensitive,
encouraging,stronganddetermined.
RestinPeaceAnne...ByMartinaBranagan
Photos:KenQuinn
FormerAmbassador,DeclanKellywithAnne
Everreadycamera...
MayorCoderreandAnne
SirWilliamTrevor,novelistandshortstorywriterdiedon20November2016attheageof88.Heissurvivedbyhiswife,JaneRyanwhomhemeetwhilestudyingatTrinityCollege,Dublinandtowhomhededicatedmanyofhisbooks.
SirTrevorstartedoutasasculptorandhistoryteacherbutgotthewritingbugwhenhewasemployedfull-timeasacopyeditorataLondonadvertisingagency.Hepenned
some fifteennovelswhichwonmanyawardsandaccolades suchas
theWhitbreadPrize(threetimes)andtheBookerPrizeshortlist(fourtimes)including2012
for
“TheStoryofLucyGault”whichlostto“TheLifeofPi”andearnedthetitleof“Saoi”ofAosdánawhichwasbestowedonhiminthepresenceofPresidentMichaelD.Higginsin2015.
Sir Trevor iswidelyacclaimed forhis short
stories,anartformheadmiredandexcelledat.Manyofhisstorieshavemadeittothebigscreensuchas“TheBallroomofRomance”.InaninterviewwiththeParisReviewhesaid:“IfthenovelislikeanintricateRenaissancepainting,the
short story is an impressionist painting. Itshouldbeanexplosionof
truth. Its strength lies inwhatit
leavesoutjustasmuchaswhatitputsin, ifnotmore. It is concernedwith
the total exclusionofmeaninglessness. Life, on the other hand,
ismeaninglessmostofthetime.Thenovelimitateslife,wheretheshortstoryisbony,andcannotwander.Itisessentialart.”Fortherestoftheinterview,see:http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/2442/william-trevor-the-art-of-fiction-no-108-william-trevor
http://audiodrama.wikia.com/wiki/William_Trevor
AlthoughlivinginEnglandwhenhedied,SirWilliamTrevor
wasaneconomicmigrantwhoconsideredhimselftobe“Irishineveryvein.”AnIrishcitizen,heearnedanhonorarytitleofCommanderoftheOrderoftheBritishEmpirein1977andreceivedanhonoraryknighthoodin2002.
IrishineveryveinByMartinaBranagan
ThememorialserviceforAnnewilltakeplaceat13:30
onDecember14th,2016intheMountainsideUnitedChurch,4 0 0 0 T h e B
o u l e v a r d ,
Westmount,QCH3Y2V1.For further information,
seetheobituaryforAnne:http://www.vo luntas .ca /anne
-gaynor-forrest-nee-smith/
Watchthisspace!OurnexteditionofNuachtwillrunafeatureonthisvery
talentedladywhohasleftamarvellouslegacy.
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December2016 14
Dubbedas thehottest Irishacousticgroupon
theplanet,LúnasawillbeintowntodelightourearsaspartofaconcertfundraiserpackagefortheCanadianIrishStudiesFoundation.RaisingfundsforIrishStudiesatConcordiaUniversityiscrucialtosupportstudentsintheprogramthroughtuitionremissionandscholarships.
EnjoyacocktailreceptionattheMontrealMuseumofFineArtspriortothe7:30p.m.LúnasaconcertonMarch30intheadjacentBourgieHall.
ContacttheSchooltopurchaseyourconcertpackagetickets,whichwouldmakegreatChristmasgiftsandbyactingearlyyoucouldgeta2016incometaxreceiptforpartofthecost.
[email protected]
LúnasaFundraiserforIrishStudiesByMarionMulvenna,IrishStudies
LúnasaTourdates:http://www.lunasa.ie/lunasa-tourdates/MusicTaster:http://www.lunasa.ie/lunasa-live-footage/
DylanDeservestheNobelPrize
Jim McDermott weighed in with his opinion
“TheNobelworksofDylan”(NPMontreal,Oct.14)
ThestartlingannouncementoutofStockholmwasmetwithbotheuphoriaanddismay.AsalifelongadmirerofBobDylan,IwasdelightedwiththischoiceandIacceptthatpeoplewhomayexperiencepoetryonlyinbooksmightdissent.
I remembermyschooldays inBelfastand those
longlessonsinpoetrythatseemedsotedious.However,whenIwasintroducedtoMr.TambourineMan,Iwashookedforever.Dylan’spoetic
lyrics
inspiredmeasmuchasYeats,PlathandDickinson.Ibelieveheisourmodern-dayShakespeare;nootherartistcomesclose
tosustainingthatcomparison.
Dylan,withoutadoubt,isthegreatenigmaticgeniusofour time.He
isbeyondpop,beyond
rock,beyondhiphopand,mostimportantly,heisbeyondanylabelyoudarepinonhim.
ByJimMcDermott
Bob Dylan was named the winner of the coveted Nobel Prize for
Literature on Monday, April 7 2016.
He made history as the first rock and roll artist to achieve
this honour for his “profound impact
on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical
compositions of extraordinary poetic
power.” When it was reported that he did not travel to Stockholm
to receive the award and appeared
indifferent in his silence on the matter, cyberspace was all a
twitter with musings and outright
astonishment in equal measure.
Photo:N.Elmehed.©NobelMedia2016
NUACHTAdvertisingRates PerIssue Yearly(4Issues)
BusinessCard $75.00 $250.00
QuarterPage $150.00 $500.00
HalfPage $250.00 $800.00
FullPage $400.00 $1,300.00
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15 December2016
IrishWomen’sNetwork-NollaignamBan
Pleasenote:wewelcomeyouropinionsandwouldappreciatefeedbackonthecontentsofNUACHT.Sendyourcommentstotheeditor:[email protected]
TheIrishWomen’sNetworkbeganinBritishColumbiain1998toprovideopportunitiesforIrishwomenandwomenofIrishdescenttomeetinordertonetworkandmutuallysupportoneanotherbycoordinatingeventsandactivities,encouraginglocalgatheringsbasedonsimilarinterestsandbyconnectingwomenacross
theLowerMainlandthroughemail,facebookandtwitter.Sincethen,chaptershaveopenedinothercitiesaroundCanada.
TheMontrealchapterwasinauguratedonFebruary18,2016,
thebrainchildof Linda Fitzgibbon, a
foundingmemberoftheOttawachapter,whoiscurrentlystudyinghereinMontreal.
HostedbytheSchoolofCanadianIrishStudies,theIrishWomen’sNetworkofQuebec(IWN-QC)meetseverytwomonthsandisgraduallyformulatingideasspecifictotheneedsandinterestsofthelocalpopulationofMontreal.
TheIrishWomen’sNetworkofQuebecwillholditsAGMonJanuary6th2017whentheywillvote
forPresident,SecretaryandTreasurer.Thatsameevening,womenwillalsocelebrate“NollaignamBan”,atraditionthatisseeingaresurgenceinmanyplacesinIrelandandabroadwithamoderntwist.
“NollaignamBan”isoftencalled“LittleChristmas”possiblybecauseinthepast,itwasthelastdayofChristmas,whenwomen
folkwouldpool their resources
toenjoyadaywithoutmenialhouseholdchoresinthecompanyoftheirextendedfemalefamilyandfriendstosharesomefoodandbeverages.
Thepatronof the IrishWomen’sNetwork isoneofIreland’s past
presidents, namelyMary
Robinson.Membershipisfreeandvolunteeringisattheheartofhowtheorganizationfunctions.
ThenextIrishWomen’sNetworkQuebecmeetingwilltakeplaceonThursdayJanuary6,2017from5:00to8:00pmattheMcEnteeReadingRoom,#1001.01,SchoolofCanadian
IrishStudies,ConcordiaUniversity,1455deMaisonneuveWest,Montreal.AllwomenofIrishdescentand/orspiritarewelcometojointheeverexpandingnetwork.Thoseattendingareaskedtobringsomethingforsharing-“potluck”.
Formoreinformation,pleasevisit: https://www.facebook.com/IWNQC/
https://twitter.com/IWN_QC [email protected]
Thecurrentcontactis:NiamhDevaney,Secretary,IrishWomen’sNetwork,Quebec.
Photo:https://www.facebook.com/IWNQC/
ByMartinaBranagan
MCE_McConomyP01824
AttorneySMeDIAtorS
coAcheS
AVocAtSMÉDIAteUrScoAchS
FAMILy LAW
SoLUtIonSen DroIt De LA FAMILLe
mceavocats.com tel. 514.866.4666fax 514.866.4667
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December2016 16
Montreal’sIrishcommunityhaslaunchedacampaigntoestablishtheGusO’GormanIrishLanguageScholarshiptohonour
the central roleGusplayed inpromoting Irishculture inMontreal
foralmostfiftyyears,andespecially
toacknowledgehispassioninpromotingtheIrishlanguage.
As readersofNuachtwill know,Guswasa vital figure
inMontreal’sIrishcommunityandindeedinthewidercity.HeservedasPresidentofSt.Patrick’sSocietyofMontreal,co-foundedNuacht,createdtheIrishlanguagegroupComhrá,andinrecentyearswasenthusiasticallyinvolvedinBloomsdayMontreal.
TorecognizeandhonourallthatGusdidoveraperiodofnearlyfiftyyears
topromote Irishculture inMontreal, especiallythe Irish language, a
scholarship is being created
inhisname.TheGusO’GormanIrishLanguageScholarshipwould be awarded
eachyear to send a universitystudent from Montrealto attend Irish
languageclasses inCarraroe,notfarfrom Gus’ birthplace
inSalthill.Thesummerschoolisorganizedinpartnershipwith Gus’ Alma
Mater,theNationalUniversityofIreland-Galway.
The goal is to create
anendowmentfundsufficientenoughtohelpoffsetsomeof the expenses
associatedwithattending theseclasses.For example, anendowmentof
$40,000wouldgenerate$1,600annually,while$50,000wouldgenerate$2,000.
Tolaunchthiscampaign,threeinitialdonationsof$1,000eachhavebeenreceivedfromGus’simmediatefamily,AfricandNedEustace,andRhonaRichmanandMichaelKenneally.
Youareinvitedtodonateaswell.Donationsofallamountsare
verywelcome, and all contributionswill
bepubliclyacknowledgedunlessotherwiseindicated.DonationsshouldbepayabletotheCanadianIrishStudiesFoundation,whichwillmanagetheendowmentandissueataxreceipt.
Pleasesendyourdonationto:CanadianIrishStudiesFoundation1455DeMaisonneuveBlvd.,West,H1001Montreal,QCH3G1M8
[email protected]
Gus O’Gorman Irish LanguageScholarship
ByMarionMulvenna,IrishStudies
CinéGaelMontréalorganizesthe largestannual Irishfilmseries
inNorthAmerica. The individual
screeningsareusuallyheldduringtheWinter-SpringatConcordiaUniversity’sdeSèveCinemainMontreal,Quebec,withthecollaborationofConcordia’sSchoolofIrishStudies.
Atypicaleveningincludesafeaturefilmintroducedbyaguestspeaker.Overtheyears,
thisnon-profit organizationhas
heldmanyspecialeventstomarkfilmpremieresandhighlightIrishfilmtalent.Theseasontypicallyfollowsthisformat:
OpeningReceptionandfilmSeriesoffilmevenings:newfeaturesandolderclassicsEveningofshortfilms(includingGaelicwithsubtitles)ClosingGalareceptionMemberappreciationeveningsMemberspecialscreeningsThe2017seriespromises
tobebetter
thanever.Markyourdiariesforthisspecialyearasthedatesarein:
Pleasenotethatallscreeningstakeplaceat:
DeSèveCinema,ConcordiaUniversity, 1400deMaisonneuveWest,Montréal
at7:15PM(unlessotherwiseindicated).
Tobecomeamember,pleasecontact: CinéGaelMontréal,
311BallantyneAvenueNorth, MontréalOuest, Québec,H4X2C4
Phone:(514)481-3503
TobeaddedtotheCinéGaelmailinglist,simplysendanemailto:[email protected]
CinéGaelwillbe25yearsoldduringthe375th
ByMartinaBranagan
Fri.Jan.202017Fri.Feb.32017Fri.Feb.72017Fri.Mar.32017Fri.Mar.312017Fri.Apr.72017Fri.Apr.212017Sat.Apr.222017
Thurs.May4th2017Photo:O’GormanFamily
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Letmesetthescene.ChicagoearlyNovember.AbeautifulcloudlessSaturday.Startedoffacrisp7degreesinthemorningwithsomewhereclose
to20degrees
forecastforanafternoonIwaslookingforwardto.Iwastheretoattendthefirsttier-onerugbyinternationaleverplayedinNorthAmerica.
Irelandwas set to takeon theNewZealandAllBlacksaspartof theautumn
internationalseriesusuallytakingplaceonlyinEurope.Sothiswasabitofarisktotheorganiserswhohadrentedthe62,000capacitySoldierField,homeoftheChicagoBears,foragamemostAmericansprobablythinkisusuallyplayedbyManchesterUnited.
ButthisclashwasnotgoingtobeattendedbytoomanyA m e r i c a n
sanyway. A swemade ourway to thestadium, therewerevery
fewyankeeaccentsto be heard.I f you
couldkeepyoureyesawayfromtheskyscrapers ,y o u m i g h ta s we l l
b eshufflingdownLandsdowneRoad towardt h e A v i v
aStadium.Abitsunnier too –this glorious
NovemberdayinChicagowouldhavebeenbreakingJulyrecordsinDublin.Tricolourseverywhere–oneofthemimploring“WHATTIMEISMASS?”inbigblackletters.ArhetoricalquestionIassumed.
Thiswasdefinitely ahomegame for the Irish.A fewvery
confident-lookingblack-cladKiwismingledwiththegood-naturedMicksbutgetting
toChicagowasamuch longer trek for them.Manyof the Irish
likemehadmadeashortintracontinentalhopbutasurprisingnumber–estimatedinthetensofthousands-hadcomeall
theway from Ireland for theChicagocraic,
abitofentertainingrugbyandadeep-dishpizzawasheddown
17 December2016
ABlackdayfortheKiwis
bysomeimmigratedGuinness.Whatreallyseparatedtheopposing
supporterswere their
expectations.Theresultwastoeachsideaforegoneconclusionbutthesameone.TheAllBlackswerecomingtoChicagoboastingan18gamewinningstreaknottomentionthatin59meetingsover111years,Irelandhadneverbeatenthem.“Daringtohope”hadbeenpummeledoutoftheIrishoveracenturyagosowedidn’tevenrememberhowanymore.Anotherdayat
theofficefortheAllBlacks...
ButtherewassomethingelseintheaironthatsunnydayinChicago.MaybeitwastheetherthathadtransportedtheChicagoCubstotheWorldSerieschampionship
after a 108 yearwai t . Maybe i twas the spirit
ofthetoo-youngex-Irish internationalAnthony Fo leywhose suddenp a r
t i n g h a dstunnedtherugbyworld in Irelanda n d a b r o a d .Fac
ing the A l lBlacks’ infamousHaka war dancebefore
thematch,theIrishteamhadformed a f igureeight – Foley ’sshirt
number - inhishonour.
Andsoitpassedthatonthatday,IrelandbrokethatKiwiwinningstreakandbeattheAllBlacksforthefirsttimeinhistory.
AndIwasthere.
ThatdaytoowasGusO’Gorman’swakeinMontrealandIcanthinkofnobodywhowouldhaveenjoyedthathistoricvictorymore.Actually,I’mconvincedhehadsomethingtodowithit.
ByPaulDunne
Photo:Irelandfacethe“haka”,PaulDunne
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December2016 18
The Ireland-CanadaChamberofCommerceheld its
25thAnniversaryCelebrationat theOmniHotelonThursdayDecember 1st
2016with an attendanceof just under
100members,friendsanddignitaries.InadditiontothepresenceofAmbassadorJimKellyandDeputyHeadofMission,MichaelHurley
fromtheEmbassyof Ireland inOttawa,wewerealsohonouredby the presence
ofMme.Marie-AnneConinsx,theEuropeanUnionAmbassador
toCanadaandMr.KarstenMecklenburg,theHeadofTradeandEconomicSectionoftheEUDelegationtoCanada.TheMontrealIrishandBritishConsulsGeneral,Dr.MichaelKenneallyandNickBakeralsoattendedandMr.RussellCopeman,BoroughMayorofCôte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-GrâcerepresentedMayorDenisCoderre.
It hasbeenaneventful year and the
internationalbackgroundtothespeechesbythediplomaticrepresentativeswere
the signing of the Comprehensive Economic
TradeAgreement(CETA)betweenCanadaandtheEuropeanUnionattheendofOctoberandthe“Brexit”referenduminJunewhichresultedintheUnitedKingdomvotingtoleavetheEuropeanUnion.
InthecaseofCETA,bothIrelandandCanadaareinapositiontoreapsignificantbenefitsastheeconomiesofbothcountriesareheavilyreliantoninternationaltradewhichhasthepotentialtosubstantiallyincrease.TheAgreement,asitstitleindicates,iscomprehensiveasitalsoallowsfortheimmediateeliminationofalmostalltariffs,thefreeflowofservices,accesstopubliccontractsalllevelsofGovernment,mutualrecognitionofprofessionaldesignationsandcuts
red tape forproductcertificationamong itsmanyprovisions.Canada
forms
thebridgebetweentheNorthAmericanmarketofapproximately450millionpeopleandtheEUmarketof500million,auniquesituation,giventhecurrentU.S.sentimentsregardinganydirecttradeagreementwithEurope.
Thedecisionof theUnitedKingdom to leave
theEuropeanUnionontheotherhandhassubstantialramificationsforboth
IrelandandCanada. Irelandnowhas toplan for apotential
re-introductionof some
typeofborderbetweenNorthernIrelandandtheRepublic.Italsohastoconsider,forthefirsttimeinhistory,thepossibilityofarestrictiononmobilityoflabourbetweenIrelandandBritain.BothIrelandandCanadawillhavetoadapttotheevolvingsituationasthedevilresidesinthedetails.
Ireland-CanadaChamberofCommercecelebrates25yearsByVivianDoyle-Kelly
Themessageinthespeechesofallofthediplomatswas positive.
Ambassador Kelly emphasized Ireland’scommitment to theEU (86% in
favourof remaining inarecentpost-Brexitpoll) andwas veryoptimistic
for thefutureof Ireland-Canada trade, encouragingpeople inboth
countries to seekout and take advantageof theopportunities.
AmbassadorConinsxcongratulated the
ICCConits25thAnniversaryandalsohighlightedthefactthattheEuropeanUniondelegationiscurrentlycelebratingits40thAnniversary
inCanada. Shepraised Irelandas a
strongsupporterofCETAwhichwillyieldbenefitsforallinvolved.
AstheICCCsupportsbusinessinterestsinalloftheislandof
Ireland,wewereverypleased
towelcomeNickBaker,theBritishConsulGeneralinMontreal.WhilethereisuncertaintyaheadasBrexitnegotiationswillpreoccupythegovernmentsconcernedoverthenextcoupleofyears,Mr.BakersharedanupbeatperspectiveontheU.K.economyandBritain’scommitmenttoitstradingrelationshipswiththerestoftheworld.
MayorRussellCopemanconveyedMayorDenisCoderre’sgoodwishesandcongratulationsfromtheCityofMontrealtotheICCCwhichhadaccompaniedhimtoDublininApril2016
toparticipate in the Friendship andCooperationAgreement
signedbetween the citiesofMontreal andDublin. The Ireland-Canada
Chamberwas pleased
torecognizethestrongsupportofthevariousIrishGovernmentAgenciesfortheICCCmissionandforgeneroussponsorshipoftheevening.Weweredelightedtohaveinattendancetherepresentativesof:•AerRiantaInternational,asubsidiaryofDublinAirportAuthoritywhoseNorthAmericanheadquarters
are
inMontreal(AerRiantaoperatesTheLoopduty-freeshoppinginDorvalandDublinairportsamongothers);
•Enterprise Ireland,theIrishStateorganizationwhichsupports
Irishcompanies indevelopingbusinessoutside
Photo:JoeDonohue
Photo:JoeDonohue
MayorRussellCopeman,Vivian-DoyleKelly
andAmbassadorJimKellycuttheICCC25thcake
AmbassadorJimKellyaddressestheICCC25th
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19 December2016
ICCCcelebrates25years
IrelandandoperatesinCanadafromitsTorontooffices;•I.D.A.IrelandwhichattractsforeigncorporationstoinvestinandcreateemploymentinIreland.
TheChamber
thanksSeamusHolmes,NeilCooney(Toronto)andPaulSwift(Boston)respectivelyfortheirpresenceontheevening.TourismIrelandrepresentativeswereunabletoattendduetomeetingsbeingheldinIrelandbutcontributedaWaterfordCrystalpieceasaprize.TheywilljoinusinMontrealonJanuary18thforaVisitIrelandpromotioneveningsopleasereservethedateandjoinusfortheevent.
AlsotobethankedareBillHurleyofHurley’sIrishPubandDianaJamesofHodgsonSugar(bothlong-timemembersoftheChamberfortheirgeneroussponsorshipoftheeveningaswellasthemembersandfriendswhocontributedgiftsasdoorprizes:BrambleHouse,GryphonBakery,FogartyLawFirm,CarolMcCormick,St.Patrick’sSocietyofMontreal,PeterW.HartGalleryandtheOmniHotel.
WealsoappreciatedthepresenceofCathyMurphy,ExecutiveDirectorofbothICCCTorontoandtheIrishCanadianImmigrationCentreaswellasJaneNoonan,ExecutiveDirectoroftheIrelandFundforCanada,acharitableorganizationwhichraisesfundsforcommunityprojectsinbothIrelandandCanada.BothhadtravelledfromTorontotoshareinthecelebration.
Music for theeveningwasprovidedbySolstice, afittingbackdroptoan
Irish-MontrealcelebrationandguestsweretreatedtoamenuoftraditionalIrishandQuebeccuisine.
TheeveningwasaveryappropriatecelebrationofICCC’s 25 yearsof
supportingnetworkingandconnectingpeopleboth locallyandacross
theAtlantic,bridge-buildingandinfluencing.TheorganizinggroupofCarolMcCormickandPaulLoftusunderAnn-MaryButts’committedleadershipandexcellentorganizationdeserveourcongratulations.PhotosoftheeveningprovidedbymemberJoeDonohuePhotographywillbeavailableonthewww.icccmtl.comsiteinthenearfuture.
Aswe look forward to 2017,we have taken
theopportunity,throughMayorCopeman,toconveytotheCityofMontrealthattheIrishCommunitywillbestrongsupportersoftheCity’s375AnniversaryCelebrationsintheveryIrishmonthofMarch.WehavealsoaskedtheIrishGovernmentfortheirsupportwithMinisterial
visits toMontreal and
continuingsupportinoureffortstoimprovedirectconnectivitybetweenMontrealandIreland.
Continuedfrompage18Fortheloveofcheese
ByPaulDunneDoyouknowwhatCETA is?Yes, it’s the free
tradeagreementrecentlysignedbetweenCanadaandtheEuropeanUnion.ButdoyouknowwhatitREALLYis?That’sright!IncreasedaccesstofineEuropeancheesesintheCanadianmarket.At
last,awheelofdeliciouslait-cruBrieatalowerpriceperouncethananingotofgold.
Letmegiveyouaquickprimerongovernmentsandfarmers.Whatfarmersaregoodat,apartfromfarming,isconvincingpoliticiansthat
therewillbewidespread famine ifanyof themearns
lessthanyouraveragebrainsurgeon.Politiciansbuytheargumentsbecausetherearelotsofsparselypopulatedruralconstituenciesthatwillmassacreanypolitician
foolishenough to challengetheexisting“system”
.HenceinEurope,farmersaresubsidizedbygovernmentsdirectly,meaningcheapcheeseforconsumerswhile
inCanada,weselected the “supplymanagement”
routetoenrichourfarmers,meaningwepaythroughthenoseforourcheeseatthecash.Yes,EuropeancheesepricestotheconsumeraretoolowandCanadiancheesepricesaretoohigh.InCanada,supply
is controlled tomaintainhigherpriceswhile
importedcheesesaresubjecttoamassive250%rateofduty.Needlesstosay,thisworksreallywellforCanadiandairyfarmers.NotsomuchforotherCanadians.
SoIwasreallylookingforwardtoCETA.AllthatdeliciousEuropeancheeseinmylocalProvigobyearlynextyeartoclogmyarteries.Onmydeathcertificateitwillproclaim“Hediedofacheeserelatedillness”.Orreally,“hediedhappy”.IneededtoknowwhenmylifewouldchangeanditturnsouttheanswershouldbenextFebruarywhentheagreementisexpectedtocomeintoeffect.Ablissfulmonthmadewarmer
thanusualby cheapRoquefort, a
freshbaguetteandsomethingstrongandsmoothtowashthemdown.
Imaginemyconsternationwhenaninconvenienttruthcametolight.Theinconvenienttruthisthatconsumersdon’treallyhavemuchofavoiceinfreetradenegotiations.Thereare11,000dairyfarmersprotectedbythe250%tariffonimportedcheesesandabout30million,giveortake,consumerswhoaredeprivedbyit.Butitseemsthatintradenegotiations,11,000trumps30millionhandsdown.Yes,therewillgraduallybeincreasedquotaoffineEuropeancheesesenteringCanadabutaccordingtoaninformedsource,guesswhowillberesponsiblefordistributionandpricingof
thischeapercheese?Noneother than those responsible
forkeepingthecurrentpricesatthecurrentnosebleedlevel.
Soonthebrightside,Iwillprobablylivelongerandeventuallydieofadementiaexacerbatedbylackofaccesstoaffordablequalitycheese.ButnomatterhowlongIlive,Iwillcertainlybesurvivedbythe“system”.
Photo:JoeDonohue
Johanne Patoine, Gov. of Qc., Paul Swift, IDA
Boston,StephanieMurphy&VeroniqueGlemaud,InvestissementQc.
&PhilippeArsenau
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NU
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2016-2017CALENDAROFEVENTS/CLÁRIMEACHTAÍ2016-2017
December2016 20
DATE EVENT FURTHERINFORMATION
Dec.19
IrishCommunityChristmasParty,TheIrishEmbassyPub&Grill,1234BishopSt.,5:30p.m.
[email protected]
Dec.29
ICCCCraicagusComhrá,TheIrishEmbassyPub&Grill,1234BishopSt.,5:30p.m.
[email protected]
Jan6
IrishWomen’sNetwork,AGMandNollaignamBan,[email protected]
NiamhDevaney,Secretary
Jan.13
InnisfailKick-OffCèili(membersonly),NDGLegionAddington/deMaisonneuve
RoseQuinn450-671-7217
Jan20 CinéGael [email protected]
Jan.15
UISGeneralMeeting,St.JohnBrebeufChurch,7777GeorgeSt.LaSalle,1:30p.m.
[email protected]
Jan.26
ICCCCraicagusComhrá,TheIrishEmbassyPub&Grill,1234BishopSt.,5:30p.m.
[email protected]
Feb3 CinéGael [email protected]
Feb.4
UISQueen’sSelectionEvening,PlazaCentre-Ville,777boul.Robert-Bourassa,7p.m.
[email protected]
Feb17 CinéGael [email protected]
Feb.19
UISGeneralMeeting,St.JohnBrebeufChurch,7777GeorgeSt.LaSalle,1:30p.m.
[email protected]
Feb.23
ICCCCraicagusComhrá,TheIrishEmbassyPub&Grill,1234BishopSt.,5:30p.m.
[email protected]
Mar.3 CinéGael [email protected]
Mar.3rd CharityBall-ChaletatopMountRoyal
KatieIrving(514)481-1346
Mar.12
UISMassofAnticipation,St.Gabriel’sChurch,2157rueCentre,11:30a.m.
[email protected]
Mar.12
UISGeneralMeeting,St.Gabriel’sChurch,2157rueCentre,1:30p.m.
[email protected]
Mar.17 AnnualLuncheon-PlazaCentreville777Robert-Bourassa
KatieIrving(514)481-1346
Mar.18 8thAnnualHudsonSt.Patrick’sParade
JimBeauchamp(514)691-2721
Mar.19 194thConsecutiveSt.Patrick’sParade,Downtown,noon
PattyMcCann 932-0512
Mar.23
ICCCCraicagusComhrá,TheIrishEmbassyPub&Grill,1234BishopSt.,5:30p.m.
[email protected]
Mar.25th 8thAnnualQuebecCitySt.Patrick’sParade
[email protected]
Mar.31 CinéGael [email protected]
Apr.1
UISAwardsBanquet&DinnerDance,PlazaCentre-Ville,777boul.Robert-Bourassa,6p.m.
[email protected] CinéGael
[email protected]
April7 InnisfailPastaNight,NDGLegionAddington/deMaisonneuve
RoseQuinn450-671-7217
Apr.21 CinéGael [email protected]
Apr22 CinéGael [email protected]
May4 CinéGael [email protected]
May7
UISMassforDeceasedMembers,St.JohnBrebeufChurch,7777GeorgeSt.LaSalle,11a.m.
[email protected]
May7
UISAnnualGeneralMeeting,St.JohnBrebeufChurch,7777GeorgeSt.LaSalle,1:30p.m.
[email protected]
May27
InnisfailMemorialMassforDeceasedMembers&F.TomMcEnteeMemorial,Ladies’Chapel,noon
RoseQuinn450-671-7217
June9
InnisfailAnnualGeneralMeeting,NDGLegionAddington/deMaisonneuve
RoseQuinn450-671-7217
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