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www.celtic-connection.com
JUNE 2009
PAUL GLEESON (centre) and friends. He was one of the guest speakers at the Irish Graduates Association.
Irish Graduates Riveted by Atlantic Adventure
By PATRICIA RYAN
VANCOUVER - The Irish Graduates Association hosted another very successful evening on June 6, at the Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club.
Paul Gleeson, a 33-year-old investment consultant from Limerick and his partner Tori Holmes aged 25 from Alberta wowed the capacity crowd with a fascinating presentation of their three-month trans-Atlantic boating adventure.
They rowed a tiny boat from the Canary Islands to Antigua in the 3005/2006 trans-Atlantic Race.
The audience was captivated by the story of their exploits in extremely cramped quarters rowing continuously in alternating two-hour shifts for the entire 86-day voyage, showing tremendous courage and perseverance throughout.
They kept everybody spellbound with tales of encounters with whales, sharks, ghosts and heavy seas. By the end of the talk, people were truly inspired by these two amazing young people.
Their book describing the adventure entitled Little Lady, One Man, Big Ocean will be published under a new title in Canada in the fall.
The evening was truly a memorable one. As usual, Kevin Elwood was the master of ceremonies. President Andrew Pike remembered recently
deceased graduates and William Pike said the grace.
Larry Cheevers introduced the guest speakers. John Furlong, the CEO of VANOC, was unable to attend in person, but sent along a nice greeting which was read by Andrew Pike.
Andrew also presented Paul Gleeson with an Olympic tie provided by John Furlong as a token of our appreciation. Patricia Ryan presented a beautiful bouquet of flowers to Tori. All of the 160 attendees seemed genuinely delighted with how the evening had unfolded.
People were particularly pleased to see founding president, Dr. Fdward McGivern in attendance, accompanied by his daughter Maura.
It was Ted who, as president of the then UCG Graduates Association, gave the Irish Graduates in Vancouver the push to continue on after their first dinner in 1990. Needless to say the Association has gone from strength to strength.
The June 6, dinner was also interesting for the number of newcomers to Canada who were in attendance. Graduates from all four provinces shared a thoroughly enjoyable evening and the opportunity to share stories and renew old friendships.
Thanks to all who came to the event and helped make it a great success. We look forward to the next gathering with much anticipation.
A Visit to the Martindale Pioneer Cemetery
By DECIAN KELLY Ambassador of Ireland
OTTAWA - Since returning to Canad Ambassador in 2006 (I served as number two in the Embassy between 1985-90), I have been involved in several important events marking the arrival in Canada of Irish men, women and children fleeing the horrors of the Great Famine.
In 2007 President Mary McAleese opened the beautiful "Ireland Park" memorial in Toronto to commemorate the extraordinary events of May-October 1847 when some 38,000 famine victims passed through Toronto which then had a population of just 20,000.
I have also made three visits to Grosse He where 5,500 famine victims are buried, the largest recorded number of Irish people buried in one place outside of Ireland.
My most recent visit was in May of this year when I accompanied Irish Government Minister Famon 0 Cuiv and Canadian Minister for the Environment Jim Prentice to the Island.
This year marks the centenary of the erection of the Celtic Cross on Grosse He by the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Also, this year the Irish Government announced that the Great Famine would from now on be commemorated each year both in Ireland and overseas. Canada was chosen as the first overseas destination for the commemoration.
By this decision the Irish Government acknowledged the central role played by Canada in assisting the tens of thousands of Irish people fleeing the Famine.
In the terrible summer of 1847 over 400 ships set out from Ireland and Britain carrying 100,000 people. Some 18 to 19 thousand died on the journey. Some are buried at sea and the rest are buried all along the St. Lawrence Seaway, from the Gaspe to Toronto.
HIS EXCELLENCYtheAmbassadorof Ireland Declan Kelly is shown above at the memorial to the survivors of the Great Irish Famine at the Martindale Pioneer Cemetery in western Quebec.
about. [See www.celtic-connection.com/about/gatineau .html.l
The Martindale Pioneer Cemetery
Some of those fleeing the Famine eventually settled in the western part of Quebec in the Gatineau Valley about one hour north of Ottawa.
Inspired by a visit to the Embassy last year by Catholine Butler, I visited the tiny hamlet of Martindale last Friday accompanied by my wife Anne.
The cemetery is nestled amid beautiful rolling hills very reminiscent of rural Ireland. As we approached this tranquil setting on a beautiful early summer's day we were both immediately impressed by the beautiful Celtic Cross which marks the site.
Beside it is the elegant monument with the names of all those who are buried in the cemetery.
As we read the names on the monument, Anne and I could not help but reflect on the difficulties faced by our ancestors as they struggled to make a new life in a strange land. However, despite the appalling circumstances of their arrival they did succeed and in doing so they helped make Canada the great country which it is today.
Something of that pioneer spirit was manifested in the extraordinary job done by Catholine and those who assisted her in making sure that the early pioneers who suffered so much, and now lie buried far from their homeland, will not be forgotten.
Readers of The Celtic Connection will be familiar with the full story of how the Cross and Monument came
For her remarkable achievement in preserving this important part of Irish history in Canada, I would like to say a sincere "Go raibh maith agat" (Thank you in Irish) to Catholine on my own behalf and on behalf of the Irish people.
ANNE KELLY is shown above at the Celtic cross which stands beside the memorial in the Martindale Pioneer Cemetery. The cross which was designed by Ethna O'Kane of Belfast depicts the journey across the ocean on the famine ships to the hope of a better future in North America.
JOHN AND TESS Cheevers. for British Columbia.
John is the Honourary Irish Consul
THE CHURCH at St. Martin's parish in Martindale which was built by the Irish famine survivors when they settled this area of the Gatineau Valley in Quebec.
THE ENGLISH translation of the Gaelic inscription on the centre stone reads: "May the light of heaven shine on the souls of the Gaels who left Ireland in the years of the Great Famine to find eternal rest in this soil. They will be remembered as long as love and music lasts."