Chris Whelehan of Edmonton
Recognized for His Achievements
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CHRIS WHELEHAN, this year's recipient of The Celtic Connection Celtic Person of the Year Award, with Catholine Butler of The Celtic Connection, and his wife Bernie Whelehan. |
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CHRIS WHELEHAN (holding The Celtic Connection award) at the Edmonton Irish Club with (L-R) Sean Smith, Mick Coughlin, Catholine Butler of The Celtic Connection, President Billy Morris and Dessi Keenan. (These men were members of the Edmonton Wolfe Tones when they won the Pacific NorthWest championship in 1990-91). |
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AT THE IRISH SPORTS and Social Society Edmonton club (L-R) Vice-President Susan McKenna, Doodie Cahill, the Honourary Counsel of Ireland for Alberta, and club President Billy Morris. |
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MARTIN EGAN with Marilyn and Oliver Grealish at the Edmonton Irish Club. |
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ENJOYING the evening at the Edmonton Irish Club are (L-R) (FRONT) Bernie Devereaux and Susan McKenna. (BACK) Past president Tom Morris. |
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
Each year, an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the communities we serve, is selected to receive "The Celtic Connection Person of the Year Award."
This year, Westmeath-born Chris Whelehan of Edmonton was presented with the award at a ceremony at the Edmonton Irish Club on April 19.
Over the years, Chris has helped many new Irish emigrants find work and get established in Edmonton and he has been a tireless supporter the local Irish community and indeed, the community at large.
His dedication, support, and passion in promoting the GAA and Ireland's national games of Gaelic football and hurling for both the men and women's teams in Edmonton is legendary. So much so that he is known locally as "Mr. Gaelic Football."
Whether Chris is playing Ireland's national sports himself or he is on the sidelines urging on the men and women of the Edmonton Wolfe Tones Football Club, he does so with the same amount of energy and pride for Ireland as his adopted city of Edmonton.
The Edmonton Irish community has a beautiful centre operated by the Irish Sports and Social Society Edmonton to serve the needs of their community. Weekly events and socials are held at the centre for various organizations within the Irish community.
I am always impressed with the hospitality at the club and how you're made to feel very welcome. That starts with Walt Leabody, the man behind the bar... a good man to know if you're feeling thirsty.
On my recent visit to Edmonton, I was delighted to meet many people that I had either spoken with many times on the telephone or by e-mail, and it also gave me an opportunity to renew old acquaintances.
Some of the people that I met and spoke with included Meath-born club president Billy Morris, who helped me to plan the evening and surprise presentation for Chris Whelehan.
Billy also took me all around the club to view and explain the many pictures on the wall of members who have been past-presidents, or who have brought honour to the club for their talents or contributions either in Ireland or Canada.
Everybody has to pitch in and volunteer in some capacity and Billy has to help with frying the bacon and eggs for the early morning GAA games. These are brought in live via satellite to the club throughout the season.
Also present at the club were Marilyn and Oliver Grealish. Oliver was born in Dublin and distributes The Celtic Connection in the Edmonton area. Doodie Cahill the Honourary Counsel of Ireland for Alberta also drove in from St. Albert to be on hand for the presentation to Chris Whelehan. Doodie is very supportive of events in the Irish community and she was one of the judges at the Edmonton Rose of Tralee contest.
Special thanks to vice-president Susan McKenna and Bernie Devereaux, who were kind enough to get me to and from the club. Susan and Ann Jones had thoughtfully organized a lovely spread of sandwiches, cakes, cookies, tea and coffee for the evening, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all present.
And thanks also to Ken McManus, who has been the treasurer for many years at the club and is now the member-at-large. Ken was on holidays at the time of my visit but he had originally helped me to plan the event in advance.
It was a great evening with lots of laughs, and I thank all of you most sincerely for your wonderful hospitality... until we meet again.
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