News & Photos

IRISH HOUSE PAVILION

The Irish House 2010 was a roaring success, the 'craic' was great and meeting people from all over the world and sharing stories was a privilege. IHSC represented Ireland by greeting people as they entered the pavilion and handing out tourism brochures, all the while encouraging people to visit Ireland. It was amazing to meet so many young people of Irish ancestry it seemed that just about everyone had a bit of Irish in them and wanted to visit Ireland. A group of 'Irish Ambassadors' spent their days talking and joking with people from all over the world. It was a warm and friendly place and a great party. At times Irish House was a sea of red and white and O' Canada would break out spontaneously.

VIEW PHOTOS of Irish House 2010

The Irish music and dancers, story teller and Irish Pipes, Drums were well received; there were twelve different music groups with more than 50% of them Irish/Celtic, two different Irish dance schools along with seven MC.s and seven DJ.s, most of Irish or Celtic ancestry. It was a privilege to be involved with the Irish Olympic Committee and the Granville Entertainment Group in this great venture. Doolins hosted a thank you party for the staff and volunteers and raffled off slightly used big screen TVs and sofas, that were used at the pavilion, plus many other gifts. It was a great finish to a wonderful adventure.

General information:

1. Granville Entertainment hired 200 fulltime workers for the Irish pavilion - 50% of them were Irish or of Irish ancestry and there were approximately 20 Irish Ambassadors.
2. The food service and staff were provided by well known catering company Austin Gourmet of Coquitlam, BC, who gave volunteers free meals and all Irish House staff a 50% discount, the cuisine included a few Irish favorites, such as corn beef & cabbage, Irish stew, steak &almp; Guinness pie and a Dublin burger.
3. M C's included - Red Robinson, Ron Coleman, Dave Abbott, Ingrid Abbott, Jim Byrnes, Michael Morgan and Rich Elwood
4. Bands - Pat Chessell Trio, (roolya boolya) Mark Downey and Mary Brunner, Murphy's Lagh, The Irish Wakers, Blackthorn, Tillers Folly, Light Sweet Crued, Irish Pipes, Drums and Beannacht Philomena (Storyteller), Papa Wheelie, Troy’s R-Us, The Bulge, Joe's Garage and Light Sweet Crude.
5. Irish Dance Schools - De-Danaan and Eire Born.

Website - www.irishhouse2010.com

Photos taken at a reception October 3rd at the Arbutus Club held in honour of the first official visit by His Excellency Ambassador Declan Kelly to Vancouver:

VANCOUVER DEPUTY MAYOR Raymond Louie; Anne Kelly with Ambassador Declan Kelly; Geraldine Megannety of the Irish Women's Network; Gwen and Tony McCamley of New West Gypsum; and president of the irish heritage Society of Canada and Gerry Furney the Mayor of Port McNeill, B.C.

JAY MANGAN, GM for Doolin's Irish Pub, and Dr.Stephen Martin, CEO of the Olympic Council of Ireland.
Doolins are part of the Granville Entertainment group who are hosting the official Irish Olympic Pavilion

 

GEORGE MCDONNELL, vice-president of the Irish Heritage Society presenting Father Boland with a pin from the Olympic Council of Ireland at the Ambassador's reception.

 

 

 

Tony Mc Camley and George Mc Donnell in front of the newly erected development rezoning signs for the new IHSC cultural center and Senior’s project at 208-83rd Ave in Langley BC
Financial Post; Leaders in Small Business article

President of the IHSC Tony Mc Camley enjoying a game of Golf with his sister Louise Kane, at his favorites hometown Golf course in Mayobridge County Down on one of his frequent visits to Ireland

The Golf course was built around the McGowan homestead

The view from the 12th hole

The Irish Heritage Society of Canada Annual Golf Tournament in July 2009

Randy Kopp, winner of the men’s nearest to the pin
Janet Powell, winner of the women's longest drive
Julie Lavis, winner of women's nearest to the pin ( Brent Tractor LTD)
Randy Kopp and Team from BC Scales Co LTD,
overall winners of the Irish Heritage Society of Canada Golf Tournament July 2009
Michael Sabourin, winner of the men’s longest drive

The Langley International Soccer Tournament on Sat July 11.2009

Brendan Flynn, presenting the Irish Heritage Society Trophy to the winners Team Canada who beat Team Guatemala 1-0 in the Final

The Irish Heritage Societies Sweetheart’s Ball February 14th 2009 held to honor Catholine Butler and Maura McCay of the Celtic Connection Newspaper.

TONY MCCAMLEY (president of the Irish Heritage Society) is shown with Deirdre O’Ruairc (president of the IWN) and Maura McCay of The Celtic Connection. Seated is Catholine Butler of The Celtic Connection receiving flowers and gifts at the Sweetheart’s Ball.

GEORGE McDONNELL of the Irish Heritage Society and Deirdre O’Ruairc of the Irish Women's Network at the Sweetheart's Ball on February 14, 2009.

Violet Moore (3rd from right) of the Moore School of Irish Dance with her talented dancers who performed at the Ball.

John O'Flynn
The History of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Canada (Book--nonfiction) www.trafford.com/07-2929

John O'Flynn, a Vancouver teacher and writer, has roots in both County Limerick and County Kerry. After learning Gaelic football and hurling with the Vancouver Irish Sporting and Social Club, he represented the club, playing Gaelic football in two North American County Board Championships.

Al and Maureen Gerrard, dedicated and generous supporters of the Irish Heritage Society of Canada, owners of "Pets Agree Ltd" - a manufacturing company in Surrey, BC that specializes in All-Natural Gourmet Dog Biscuits. Maureen hails from Clones, Co Monaghan Ireland, Al and Maureen have been involved in the pet food business for many years and acquired the full ownership of Pets Agree in 1999.
For more information check out their website www.petsagree.com or email maureen@petsagree.com

Mayo Memorial and Peace Park, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland
www.mayomemorialpeacepark.org

Speech by President McAleese’s at the official opening of Mayo Peace Park, Castlebar
Tuesday 7th October 2008 www.president.ie

This is a very special occasion for the people of Mayo as we gather to officially open this beautiful Mayo Memorial Peace Park Garden of Remembrance. I am very grateful to Michael Feeney, the Chairman of the Mayo Peace Park Committee and instigator of the project for the invitation to be here.

This place is a simple gesture of respect and honoured memory for all those from Mayo who gave their lives in the unselfish service of others. Some gave service in the uniform of the Irish Army on service with the United Nations, while others wore the uniforms of other armies, the British Army, American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and indeed many others if we cast our minds back over the centuries of our complex history. Some of those who died were destined to be well-remembered. Others, particularly the fifty thousand or more who died in the Great War, were destined to have their memories consigned to shoe-boxes in attics until recent years, when a great longing for reconciliation allowed us to remember differently.

The opening of the Island of Ireland Peace Park in Messines in Belgium over a decade ago showcased this new mood and the opening of the Mayo Peace Park Garden of Remembrance consolidates it, ensuring that we will continue to remember differently, and in remembering all that appalling sacrifice, dedicate ourselves anew to building peace and closing the door forever on conflict.

This year we celebrate fifty years of Irish peacekeeping with the United Nations. The people of Ireland have taken enormous pride in the professional, tactful and compassionate way our defence forces provided protection and care of very troubled communities in conflict situations across the world. They have brought hope and dignity to so many anxious and endangered people and they have brought huge credit and international respect to their homeland. This small island with its embedded tradition of military neutrality has never shirked its responsibilities in the cause of world peace, and Mayo’s sons and daughters have made and continue to make their distinctive contribution.

Our first President Douglas Hyde kept the memory of the famous Mayo poet Anthony Raftery alive when he gathered in his words from the oral tradition and collected them in writing for future generations. In his best known poem he wrote in rapturous terms about his Mayo home in words that could have been written of this day and this place:

"And if I were standing in the midst of my people, Age would leave me and I'd be young once more"

Almost all of those we commemorate here died young. They died wishing they could be back among their people. Here we bring their memories back among their people and they are indeed young once more.

We are a very fortunate generation that we can gather in commemoration of all those Irish men and women who gave their lives - whether it was for Irish freedom in successive uprisings over centuries of resistance to colonisation or whether it was in the many European uniforms in which the scattered Irish served for causes they felt passionate about, sometimes conflicting causes, whether it was in British, American, Australian, Canadian or New Zealand uniforms or whether in service with the UN. This is probably the first generation to be able to reconcile and revere all those memories.

John Ward
As a Dublin-born artist who has been active on the Canadian art scene for over three decades, exhibited widely in Canada and abroad, I would appreciate the opportunity to introduce you to my work as a painter. In order to make that introduction, I invite you to double click on my web site address www.johnwardart.com.

Trace your Irish/wicklow roots. Ceaneacht O Hoctun History researcher from Ireland is delighted to tell you that www.wicklowroots.com is now online. A new website allowing people from across the globe to trace their roots in Co Wicklow.
A sincere thank to George McDonnell & Tony McCamley for their time and effort in allowing the site to be advertised & linked to the Irish Heritage Society of Canada. A warm cead mile failte awaits you.

Author. Gardiner M. Weir, published 2 books of Scots-Irish short stories most of which are set in mid County Antrim or Belfast. A few involve Scots-Irish living overseas. The 1st book is titled, Music on the Wind and the 2nd is Voices in the Glen. For background information and beautiful photos of the Glens of Antrim click on the books' website: http://home.comcast.net/~gmweir/Scots-IrishShortStories.html

Patrick Taylor's New novel, An Irish Country Christmas

Click here to purchase your copy of the brilliant new novel, An Irish Country Christmas by New York Times Bestselling author, Patrick Taylor, M.D. A great gift idea just in time for the holidays!

Patrick Taylor, M.D. was born and raised in Bangor County Down in Northern Ireland. After qualifying as a specialist in 1969, Dr. Taylor worked in Canada for thirty-seven years. He currently resides in Cootehall, County Roscommon, Ireland

George Mc Donnell, Anne Kerrigan, Maureen Garrard, Teresa Mc Donnell , Shar Dubas Executive Director Langley's International Festival Society



Irish Heritage Society of Canada 2008 Golf Tournament

Mike Sabouin Winner of the Men’s Long drive with Adrienne Southland, George Mc Donnell
Winners (L-R) Ralph Powell, Janet Powell, John Lahey, and Janet Powell also won the ladies long drive.

Vancouver Harps Gaelic football players who took part for the first time in the Langley International Festival, Marcus Tracy also arranged a Hurley demonstration.



George & Teresa Mc Donnell at the IHSC booth - Intercultural Harmony Festival in Langley



De- Danaan Championship Irish Dancers at the Intercultural Harmony Festival in Langley



St. Patrick's Day Parade 2009

THE SCOIL RINCE DE DANAAN Irish Dancers are shielded from an unusually cold weather snap by wrapping the Tri Colour around them during preparations for the St Patrick Parade in Vancouver 2009

St Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance 2009

The SCOIL RINCE DE DANAAN Irish dancers performing at the annual Irish Heritage Society of Canada St Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance 2009



GEORGE MCDONNELL (vice-president of the Irish Heritage Society) and his wife Teresa who both deserve a lot of credit for their hard work to ensure the success and a full house at the St. Patrick’s dinner dance for the Irish Heritage Society on March 14.


AT THE IRISH HERITAGE SOCIETY St. Patrick’s dinner and dance:
(L-R) [Front] Cookie Boyle, Catherine Brennan-Schwarz and Louise Schwarz.
[Back] Tom Butler, Carla Wellman and Mike Muldoon.


Maureen and Pat Tranor, Joanne Long, Jim Carbin, Jane Ducharme and Mary Horg at the Irish Heritage Society banquet


GWEN MCCAMLEY (treasurer of the Irish Heritage Society) is shown front and centre. Directly behind her is her husband Tony McCamley (president of the Irish Heritage Society). Also shown Pam and Gary Brackenbury, Sandra Loewen, Arnold and Lynne Tobler at the Irish Heritage Society’s St. Patrick’s dinner dance.


ENJOYING some time with friends at the Irish Heritage Society banquet: (L-R) [Back] John Coughlan and Al Gerrard. [Front] Carmel McCullogh, Maureen Gerrard and Erin Coughlan.


MEMBERS OF THE ROGUES N’ TINKERS who kept feet tapping and the floor packed at the Irish Heritage Society’s St. Patrick’s dinner dance.


The SCOIL RINCE DE DANAAN Irish Dancers dazzled guests with their footwork at the Irish Heritage Society St. Patrick’s dinner dance. Back, far left, is their teacher Leslie Wilson.

St. Patrick's Day Parade 2008

St Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance 2008