Irish Famine Commemoration Melbourne International Venue
In the late noughties, the Irish Government decided there should be an annual National and International commemoration of the Great Irish Famine. Since then, such commemorations have flourished in each of the four Provinces of Ireland, and in the US, Canada, Britain and Australia. See irishfamine.ie for more information. Tintean (September 6, October 6, November 7, 2018) celebrated the International Melbourne commemoration held in Williamstown in October 2018, to great acclaim.
Others have fond memories of the first Sydney Commemoration, in August 2013, that coincided with the launch of that great book, Atlas of the Great Irish Famine, (Cork University Press, 2012). This year, the International celebration has returned to Sydney. It will be held on 21 July.
In establishing these commemorations, the Irish Government saw an opportunity to reconnect with the global Irish diaspora. Some cleverly saw how it struck a chord with the Irish psyche. Minister Humphreys at Saint John, New Brunswick in October 2015 put it like this,
“One of the legacies left behind by the famine in Ireland is the deep compassion which is felt by Irish people for those who suffer from hunger today and a resultant strong commitment to humanitarian aid and relief. The International Famine Commemoration serves an important role in generating discussion, at national and international levels, regarding aid and emergency assistance for those in need today.” (Yemen, Somalia, Ukraine?)
Fortunately, such a motif is a constant in the annual remembering held at Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney each year. As Chairman Tom Power said at the opening of the Famine monument in August 1999, “This monument should not only serve to connect us to our past but also stand as a continual reminder of the many terrible realities, similar to the great famine of Ireland, occurring in the world today and which cry out for our compassion and concern”.
And ten years later, in 2009, the committee took a concrete, positive step to turn some of that into reality via its outreach programme, supporting Sudanese refugees at the Sisters of Mercy in St. Mary’s, and establishing a fund for female students of refugee background at Western Sydney University. Long may it continue.
Below is an invitation from the current Chair of the GIFC, Damian Ennis. If you happen to be nearby on the day, you will be made most welcome.
‘It gives me great pleasure to inform you that Sydney has been selected as the location of the International Venue for the National Famine Commemoration Day, by the Irish Government. This is a huge honour for us, and we are grateful to the Consulate for working with us to make this happen.
There will be an Irish Government Minister in attendance – this has required that we move from our typical August date. This year’s Commemoration will be on Friday 21st July at 2pm, at the Great Irish Famine, at Hyde Park Barracks.
I wanted to personally extend an invite to each of you, to spend time remembering all the people who left Ireland during the Great Irish Famine, on the treacherous journey down under. We cannot grasp the pain of what they were leaving, or the fear of what lay ahead – often at a young age. They faced these challenges, and many built new lives for themselves, leading to modern Australia where 30% of the Australian population are from “partial Irish ancestry”.
We all, even those of us who are more recent arrivals, stand on their shoulders.
We look forward to seeing you on the 21st July.
Please RSVP to contact@irishfaminememorial.org
Please feel free to reach out to us, if you have any queries. contact@irishfaminememorial.org
Damian Ennis
GIFCC – Chair’
Melbourne Comhaltas: 26 August 2023
Comhaltas Zoom: 31 July 8-10pm
Comhaltas are also holding their monthly Zoom session then. Contact organisers for link, please.
Irish Film Festival News
Love/Hate on SBS
The Irish Crime Drama series Love/Hate has made it’s way on to SBS OnDemand for Aussies to check out:
sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/love-hate
Considering the competition for harrowing crime dramas from across the pond (yes we’re looking at you Scandinavian friends) and Aussies preferred fondness for a more romanticised notion of their Emerald Isle mates, it’s great to see this gritty production get the attention it deserves.
Find out why Love/Hate is considered Ireland’s most popular drama ever here
If you’ve not seen the film about Sinead O’Connor, Nothing Compares2 U, streaming on SBS, it’s certainly very moving. Trailer on You Tube.
The Irish Film Festival (Australia) site is signalling that the dates for their festival are close to release. They will screen in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth and Melbourne. Some clues are to be had from Irish films featured in the Sydney Film Festival, held recently. I searched for Irish and Ireland.
Thanks to Enda Murray, Natalie ad Susie at the Irish Film Festival for this intelligence.
| FIFA Women’s World Cup Ireland vs Australia |
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| The FIFA Women’s World Cup is making its way to Australia and New Zealand for the 2023 competition this month!Australia and New Zealand will be playing their first games on Thursday, July 20, with Australia’s Matildas facing the Girls in Green with kick-off at 8pm AEST.For those unable to be in the stadium (tickets are in high demand with most sold out, however single tickets are still being released at time of sending), Irish communities around the nation are arranging screenings of the game – with no doubt plenty of ‘Italia 90s’ style craic to be had at each venue.SYDNEY Irish Support Agency NSW Screening at The Gaelic Club, Sydney CBD Doors open 7pm Cost: $20 (Proceeds go to the agency) TICKETS HEREPENRITH, NSW Screening at Penrith Gaels Cultural & Sporting Assoc. 8pm, FREEQLD Irish Australian Support Association of QLD Screening at Stock Exchange Hotel, Brisbane CBD Doors 5pm with Live Irish Music FREEMELBOURNE Screening at The Irish Times Pub (Contact directly for details) CANBERRA Screening at Canberra Irish Club 8pm Kickoff, Arrive early for dinner from the bistroPERTH Screening at Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub Perth (Contact directly for details)Many of these venues will be screening multiple games over the Women’s World Cup so follow up with them for other screenings.Watch from home on Channel 7 & 7plus |
Thanks to Natty at IFF for this news.
Tinteán 