Page 10
www.celtic-connection.com
NOVEMBER 2004
732 12th Street, New Westminster, B.C. V3M 4J9 604 515-8839
"Where Memories Come Alive Again" Our Christmas Stock Has Arrived!
* Milsean Demerara Butter Crunch
* Duchy Original Biscuits
* Thorntons Classics
* Ginger Shortbread
* Clootie Dumpling *Mackay's Jams/Preserves
* Soreen Malt Loaves
* Harry Potter Chocolate Frogs
* Cadbury Selection Boxes
Order Your
Battenburg Cake Early!
British Sweets & Groceries
Snacking hours: !■ Mon-Sat 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. - Sun & Hoi 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. yji
Irish Women's Network Update: New Board of Directors and Upcoming Events
By DEIRDRE O 'RUAIRC
VANCOUVER-The Irish Women's Network (IWN) held its annual general meeting and fundraiser on October 23 at the Scandinavian Community Centre in Burnaby.
Deirdre O'Ruairc, Geraldine Megannety andEilis Courtney were re-elected as president, secretary and treasurer respectively. Other members of the board include Helen Ritchie, Margaret Brown, Jackie Parsonage, Nessa Flewelling and Pam Glass.
Both Marie Morris and Mary Hatch have decided to step down. Mary was the original organizer of the IWN and Marie a founding member.
The new executive extends a big thank you to both ladies for their past commitment and look forward to seeing them at upcoming events.
Many thanks to all who donated items for the auction and to all who
came out to a fun-filled evening. Nessa Flewelling once again was the auctioneer. She kept everyone well entertained and was very successful in encouraging bidding.
Among the items on the block were a weekend escape to Whistler; dinner package; exclusive scarves; and a stay at the Auld Dublin bed and breakfast.
The auction raised approximately 0800 and included a donation of 0200 received from the White Rock Irish Club. Proceeds from the auction will go to The Celtic Society of Canada benevolent fund.
Some other upcoming events include Nollaig na mBan on January 8 to celebrate the spirit of Irish Women's Little Christmas.
This will be held at the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside and tickets are 040. Cocktails are at 6:30 PM and dinner 7 PM. Everyone is
encouraged to reserve early for this popular event.
The hotel has offered a special 099 rate for those wishing to stay overnight (sleeps 4). Call the hotel at (604) 689-9211 and book under Irish Women's Network. For more details, call Deirdre O'Ruairc at (604) 576-1525, or e-mail shamrockhome @shaw. ca.
Further events include: St. Patrick's Day parade - March 13; seventh annual anniversary dinner - April S3; European Festival, Scandinavian Community Centre, Burnaby - May 31; Annual golf tournament at the Mylora Golf Course, Richmond - organized by Marie Morris and family - June 12.
Check out the website www.irishwomenbc.net for a
complete list of upcoming events as well as links to member businesses and other Irish groups in the Lower Mainland.
**A Traditional French-Canadian Pie That Is Perfect For When Guests Drop In Throughout the Holiday Season.** Order Your Family Size Pie - Today! Ask For Our Pies At Your Favourite Butcher.
Viet...
112-2540 Shaughnessy Street, Port Coquitlam 604-464-2099
HOUSE
SIGNS
MAYFAIR
TRADITIONAL OLD ENGLISH PAST MF.TAT. STfJMS
ORDER NOW FOR CHRISTMAS
www.mayfairsigns.com
Free colour brochure: 42185 Majuba Hill Road, Chilliwack (Yarrow) B.C. V2R 5H2
EST. 1991
THE WARKENTINS
PHONE: 604-823-4141 FAX: 604-823-4949
285^
Doubts Surface Over Who Lies in Yeats's Tomb
SLIGO - The thousands of pilgrims each year to the grave ofWB Yeats, under bare Ben Bulben's head, may in fact may be viewing the last resting place of an Englishman. This "very real possibility" has been raised by writer Anthony Jordan, an expert on the poet and his works who has released a new book entitled: Teats - Vainglorious Lout or Maker of Modern Ireland?
He told the annual Kenny/ Naughton Autumn School in Aghamore, County Mayo, that the remains buried at Drumcliffe, County Sligo, could be those of Englishman Albert Hollis.
Yeats died in January 1939 at Cap Martin in southern France and his body was interred locally in the graveyard ofRoquebrune. His widow believed that she had taken a lease on the grave for 10 years, but the cemetery authorities later decided the lease was for five years and the poet's remains were exhumed and placed in an ossuary in the cemetery.
This only became apparent in June 1947 when Edith Shackelton Heald, a friend of Yeats who had been at the burial, went to visit the grave. Jordan said Heald contacted Edmund Dulac, another friend of the poet, and together they challenged the authorities, who had no idea of the fame of the deceased man. Heald and Dulac decided that the exhumation should be kept secret.
In his last poem, Yeats expressed a wish that he be buried "under bare Ben Bulben's head, in Drumcliffe churchyard. " This could not be arranged at the time of his death because of the Second World War, so the Yeats family, with the assistance of the Irish Government, made the arrangements early in 1948.
Edmund Dulac read this news with consternation on January 6 of that year. He and Edith Heald advised Mrs. Yeats not to proceed. However, by that stage it had become a matter of international relations, as the Government had undertaken to repatriate the body for burial at Drumcliffe, and had contacted the French government on the matter.
A police inspector travelled from Paris to the graveyard to assist the local officials to identify the remains. The Yeats family informed the French authorities that the poet was a very tall man with a particularly massive bone structure and had been buried in a truss that he had worn due to a "long-term hernia problem."
After a diligent search, a set of remains in the ossuary was identified as those of Yeats and placed in a coffin with the nameplate of the old coffin affixed. It was then placed in the chapel and rested there from March until September 1948.
According to Jordan, an Englishman named Alfred Hollis had been buried alongside Yeats's grave. In February 1947, his brother-in-law Albert Emery had visited the graveyard and discovered that both graves were empty. Alfred Hollis, too, had worn a form of corset.
Following their own investigations, the Hollis family believed that a mistake had been made and that it was the body of Alfred Hollis which had been removed to the chapel.
Jordan said that by a strange coincidence the person in the Irish Government with responsibility for the enterprise was the new Minister for External affairs, Sean MacBride, son of Yeats' muse, Maud Gonne, and of Yeats's erstwhile enemy Major John MacBride.
The ship carrying the remains back to Ireland sailed on September 6, arriving in Galway on September 17 to be met by the poet's family; From Galway, the cortege travelled to Drumcliffe via Sligo. At the request of the family, there was no State ceremony, except for a military Guard of Honour. The chief government representative was Sean MacBride.
New Stamp Honours Canada's War Heroes
Remembrance Day is November 11 and this year Canada Post has issued a stamp to honour those Canadians who were awarded the Victoria Cross. This medal was for most conspicuous bravery or some daring or preeminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.
Between 1854 and 1945, 95 Canadians were awarded the Victoria Cross. The first Canadian awarded the medal was Alexander Roberts Dunn, born September 15, 1833 in York, Upper Canada (now Toronto, Ontario).
He was serving with the Eleventh Hussars, British Army, when he won the Victoria Cross during the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava in the Crimean War in October 1854. There are several versions of why he was awarded the Cross, including a heroic stand against Russian troops with only his saber after his pistol ran out of bullets.
The only Victoria Cross awarded in Canada was pinned on Timothy O 'Hea, Private, First Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, on June 9, 1866. Private O'Hea was born in Bantry, County Cork, Ireland in 1843.
His citation reads: On June 9, 1866, at Quebec, Canada, afire broke out in an ammunition car containing 2,000 pounds of ammunition between Quebec and Montreal. The alarm was given and the car was disconnected at Danville Railway Station. While the sergeant in charge was considering what should be done, Private O'Hea took the keys from his hand, rushed to the car, opened it, and called for water and a ladder. It was due to this man's example that the fire was extinguished. Tragically, Timothy O'Hea was lost in Duff's Desert, Australia, in December 1874 while on a discovery expedition.