Malachy Mahon Steps Down as President of the CHSC

"Some of the Most Rewarding and Some of the Most Disillusioning Times"

By CATHOLINE BUTLER

BURNABY - Malachy Mahon has served as President of the Celtic Heritage Society of Canada (CHSC) for the past two-and-a-half years. Since the Irish-born Burnaby businessman took on this position, he has generously dedicated two years of his life, his business acumen, his talents and his personal finances to follow his dream of building a Celtic Cultural Centre in Burnaby. This centre would benefit all Celtic people in addition to becoming a valuable community resource for the City of Burnaby.

MALACHY MAHON

The site proposed for the Centre is located in the 3800 block Hastings Street, in "the Heights" district of Burnaby. It is envisioned that the self-sustaining Centre would generate income by providing retail space, office space, banquet facilities, conference rooms, a recital hall, a restaurant, a theatre, a pub and parking. The Centre would be a focus for all the Celtic communities, but particularly for the Irish who do not have a Centre of their own.

Many CHSC members and friends know how hard Malachy has worked to bring this dream to reality. Attending meetings, fundraising, bringing people on board who could help raise the profile of the Society, and willing at all times of the day or night to meet with anyone who could help in some way to bring this project to fruition.

Malachy said these past two-and-a-half years have been some of the most rewarding and some of the most disillusioning and stressful times of his career, particularly when he needed support from the community and it wasn't always there. Often, he found himself working alone on this huge project and he would question...do the Celtic people really want this Centre?

Things took a dramatic change a couple of months ago, when the Listraor Development Company made a proposal to the Society to build the Celtic Cultural Centre at no cost or risk to the CHSC. A finished, turnkey space donated to the Society for a 20,000 square foot structure. A condominium complex would be constructed on the site. These condominiums would be sold to offset the cost of building the Centre.

THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS for the Celtic Heritage Society of Canada – (L-R) BACK ROW: Ivan Douglas, John O’Flynn, Tony McCamley, James Purcell, Sean Quinn, George McDonnell, Thomas O’Flynn. FRONT ROW: Mera Malatestinic, Jacqueline McQueen, Adrienne Sutherland.

At a meeting on November 16, CHSC members were asked what action should be taken on the Listraor proposal and if further dialogue should take place. It was also at this meeting that President Malachy Mahon told the shocked assembly that he was compelled to resign his position on the advice of his doctor.

At an annual general meeting held on December 6, a joint nominating committee was struck with co-chairs from the Celtic community and the community of Burnaby. Members voted unanimously to have this committee form the next Board of Directors for the Celtic Heritage Society of Canada.

Outgoing President Malachy Mahon took the opportunity to thank the members and supporters and he said, “much has been accomplished and there remains major work ahead, but I believe the Celtic community working in harmony with the new board will have the skills and professionalism to bring the Centre to fruition.

“I am proud to say that the dream of building our cultural home here in Burnaby is alive and well and now within our grasp. To our supporters from the Burnaby community, you stayed the course. To my fellow board members, past and present, I am sure we will look back on this journey and say, ‘thank God we gave our contribution’.

“To the people who wanted to wait and see what happened and to those who may not want it built at all, I say let tonight be a new beginning if not for you then let it be for your children and grandchildren.

“Let the sounds of their culture and music resonate through its walls and across this great land. And their sounds will be picked up so that others may join and follow. What a legacy we will have left behind for generations to come. Let me tell you that a united Celtic Centre which has eluded us for generations is now a reality.

“Let there be support where there is none, and praise where there is ridicule. Let us now look to the future united and work with the new board so that a part of each of us can be built into the walls of our new home in Burnaby.

"And as I leave this hall tonight, I will be taking all of you with me. Thank you most sincerely."

*

To become a member of the Celtic Heritage Society of Canada or to volunteer, call (604) 299-2019, e-mail: membership@celticheritage.org, or visit: www.celticheritage.org.

[ President Malachy Mahon of the Celtic Heritage Society of Canada received The Celtic Connection's Irish Person of the Year Award in 2003. Vice-President Sharon Keough also received a special award from The Celtic Connection in September 2004 for her work and dedication in helping to establish a Celtic Cultural Centre in Burnaby. Thank you both for your untiring energies over the past two-and-a-half years so that we may enjoy a Celtic Cultural Centre in this generation.]

TOP - or - Back to Headlines