Céad Míle Fáilte
Welcome to the Friends of Ireland Society Canberra
'Ourselves are not only where we are, but where we have come from’
the late Professor Patrick O'Farrell, historian of Ireland and Australia
About the Friends of Ireland Society (Maidir le Cairde na hÉireann)
Founded in 1985, the Friends of Ireland Society (or in Irish, Cairde na hÉireann) reflects the deep interest of many people in the Canberra region in their Irish origins and in the links between Ireland and Australia. The Society seeks to promote a better understanding of modern Ireland (both North and South) and of the distinctive contribution that the Irish have made to the Australian way of life. The Society is a valuable and valued partner of the Irish embassy in Australia and promotes Irish culture and heritage amongst people living in and around Canberra. The Society also allows people living here to express their Irish identity, to celebrate their affinity or to explore their connections with an island that is distant, yet so closely connected with Australia. For more information on Friends of Ireland Society visit our website www.friendsofireland.org.au
We organise and participate in a diverse range of festivals, special events and talks. We often have live Irish music and dancing at these events which are a lot of fun. Some of our events include:
Festivals and Special Events
Celebrating Bloomsday
Concerts at The National Film and Sound Archives eg ‘In the name of John Hume’
Irish Concerts at the Canberra Theatre
Holding an annual Christmas Cultural Event where Irish music, dancing and song can be enjoyed and splendid raffles may be won
Celebrating the feasts of Saint Brigid, Saint Patrick and Saint Brendan
Organising the annual Ecumenical Service held at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture for Saint Patrick’s Day
Celebrating NAIDOC Week and attending heritage tours
Joining in the annual Craic in Yass - a festival of Irish music, arts, language
‘ANU Film Society Sing Street,’ 2016; and
Attending annual Irish Film Festivals at local theatres
and generally having a lot of fun!
Talks
One of the main features of FOI over the years has been guest speakers talking about literature, history, politics, music and sport by people with Irish connections and expertise. These have mostly happened on evenings and Sunday afternoons at CIC, sometimes at other venues such as the National Gallery or on invitation from the Embassy of Ireland.
Some of the talks we arranged in the past include the following (for a more comprehensive list visit our website at www.friendsofireland.org.au) :
Dr Bernadette Boss- ‘Ned Kelly’s Mother’
Melanie Nolan, Professor of History at the ANU gave us a fascinating talk in April 2021, on the place of Irish-Australian women in the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
Estelle Blackburn - ‘Catalpa Rescue’
Aidan Moore- ‘Irish Traditional Music- survival of Culture 1174-1994’
Roger Ley- Irish - ‘Australian boxing legend Les Darcy’
Dr Richard Reid - ‘A Decent Set of Girls’ - Irish Earl Grey Scheme
John Kirk - ‘Clonakilla Winery’
Barbara Moore – ‘Tracing Family History’
Irish Set Dancers - ‘History and Symbolism of set dancing’
Barry Hussey - ‘Glimpses of Contemporary Irish Theatre’ - Concerts held at John and Nikki Carson’s rural property
Pamela O’Neill - ‘Early Irish Law’
John Collard’s Book Launch - McGrath family history
Rev David Campbell - ‘It is old but is it beautiful’ -Peace reconciliation in Nthn Ire.
Dr Margaret Betteridge - ‘Refurbishment of the Lodge’
Dr Francis Shannon UC - An Irish academic –’A life built in Australia. Irish contributions in Medicine to Mathematics’
Dr Patricia Clarke spoke about Matron Gertrude Lawlor and some of the nurses from the Canberra region who served in WW1.
Membership
We’d love you to become a member! You'll receive a warm welcome!
Annual membership per household is $20 or $10 (concession) and there are 2 year memberships of $40 or $20 (concession) You can deposit your membership in our Beyond Bank account: BSB 325185 Acc Number 03405456. Please identify yourself on the payment. You can download a membership form from the Membership page on the website www.friendsofirleand.org.au Members receive an occasional newsletter Glor, advising them of our varied functions and events. Membership enquiries to Jill Hanson 02 6288 6729 or jillh1949@gmail.com
Our president is: Máire O' Callaghan
Our member’s newsletter, Glór, keeps you in touch with our activities.
Message from His Excellency The Ambassador of Ireland/Ambasadóir na hÉireann
Is cúis áthais dom mo dhea-ghuí a chur go Cairde na hÉireann agus buíochas a ghabháil leo as an sárobair a dhéanann siad le cultúr agus oidhreacht na hÉireann a chur chun cinn san ACT agus máguaird.
The Friends of Ireland Society has a straightforward mission. It promotes a deeper and better understanding of Ireland, our culture and our heritage amongst people living in and around Canberra. It also allows people living here to express their Irish identity, to celebrate their affinity or to explore their connections with an island that is so closely connected with Australia.
The Society is a valuable and valued partner of the Irish embassy. Working together, we endeavour to promote Australia’s knowledge and understanding of Ireland in a manner that reflects the Ireland of 2022; an Ireland that has been independent for 100 years and has been a member of the European Union for 50 years; an Ireland that is progressive and outward looking; and an Ireland that participates fully in the global economy.
The history that we share is extremely important. It also offers the foundation of familiarity that allows us to relate so well to each other in the present time and that will help us work together into the future.
The persistence and pervasiveness of COVID-19 has impacted us all since 2020. Beyond the immediate health aspects, it has prevented us from doing so many things that are important and has really curtailed what the French call la vie associative. It is paradoxical that the imposition of lockdowns and similar measures to keep us apart has underlined like never before our need to participate in our society and our community.
The pandemic has undoubtedly hindered the activities of the Society. However, now that we are learning to live in a world in which the virus is present, I am optimistic that the dynamism will return to the Society’s activities, that membership will grow and that participation will deepen. I hope that individually and collectively we will again invest in our community and follow our interests.
Taking the time and making the effort to join the Friends of Ireland Society and to actively participate in its programmes is an excellent way to make an investment in ourselves; to shake off the impact of the COVID restrictions and to pass a vote of confidence in our Canberra community
I am very happy to be associated with the Society and to participate in and support its activities where I can. I hope that the coming year will bring many occasions where we can come together to promote Ireland in Canberra
Le gach dea-ghuí
Tim Mawe
Ambassador of Ireland/Ambasadóir na hÉireann
