A Very Warm Welcome in B.C. for Ambassador Declan Kelly

By CATHOLINE BUTLER

THE TALENTED traditional group Ballyhooley, under the direction of uilleann piper Tim Fanning, really set the tone for the gala evening. They just did a superb job playing Celtic music.

CATHERINE Brennan-Schwarz and Tom O'Sullivan enjoying the reception for the Irish Ambassador.

AT THE IRISH AMBASSADOR'S reception: (L-R) Dennis Rogers, Agatha Rogers, Doodie Cahill (Honorary Consul of Ireland for Alberta based in Edmonton) and Gabriel Cahill.

MARIE MORRIS (CENTRE) with Sean Twomey, Jay Mangan (GM at Doolin's Irish Pub), and Paudie McGinn at the Irish Ambassador's reception.

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.

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 Gerry Furney the Mayor of Port McNeill, B.C.

VANCOUVER - It was billed as the social event of the year, and there can be no doubt that the gala reception at the Arbutus Club on October 3 more than lived up to its billing.

The Irish community of the Vancouver Lower Mainland gathered to welcome His Excellency Ambassador Declan Kelly along with distinguished guests from far and near.

This was the Ambassdor's first official visit to Vancouver and the event was a wonderful collaborative effort by the various Irish organizations including: The Irish Women's Network; the Irish Heritage Society; the Irish Sporting and Social Club; and the GAA Western Division of the Canadian County Board.

Proceeds from the reception were for the benefit of the Celtic Society of Canada Benevolent Fund. This fund supports members of our community requiring emergency financial assistance and it has helped many people over the years.

Some of the evening's special guests were: John Cheevers, Honorary Consul General of Ireland for British Columbia; Cameron Milliken, Honorary Consul General of Ireland to Alberta based in Calgary; Doodie Cahill, Honorary Consul of Ireland for Alberta based in Edmonton; and the newly announced Honorary Consul of Ireland for Seattle and Washington State, John Keane.

Also present were: Deputy Mayor Raymond Louie from Vancouver City Hall; Dr. Stephen Martin, the CEO of the Olympic Council of Ireland; Gerry Furney, the Irish-born Mayor of Port McNeill; Nanci Spieker, the president of the Irish Heritage Club of Seattle; and Tim Stevenson, councillor with the City of Vancouver.

Sponsors for the event were Tony and Gwen McCamley of New West Gypsum; The Irish Heritage Society; and Granville Entertainment owners of Doolin's Irish Pub which will host the Irish Pavillion during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

There was a great sense of anticipation and excitement in the packed Quilchena room at the Arbutus Club as everyone awaited the arrival of the Ambassador. He was piped in with great ceremony by the Vancouver Irish Pipes and Drums along with an RCMP honour guard.

Ronan Deane of the Western Division GAA was the master of ceremonies for the evening and he did an excellent job of introducing the Ambassador and special guests. Cork-born Deane welcomed the Irish Ambassador in Gaelic and injected some appropriate humour into the introductions.

Vancouver Deputy Mayor Raymond Louie was the first speaker at the podium and he brought greetings from Mayor Gregor Robertson.

He spoke about the upcoming Olympics and invited the Ambassador to enjoy some of the natural beauty of Vancouver while he was visiting the city.

Ronan Deane then read a letter of welcome from Tipperary-born John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, who was unable to attend the reception.

Dr. Stephen Martin the CEO of the Olympic Council of Ireland spoke about Ireland's contribution to the 2010 Olympics and the areas where the Irish athletes will be competing in. Members of the Irish organizing committee were in Vancouver making advance preparations for the Olympics.

Finally, on behalf of the Irish community, Ronan Deane welcomed Ambassador Declan Kelly and his lovely wife Anne to Vancouver.

Ambassador Kelly was then invited to say a few words. When the applause finally stopped, there was complete silence in the room as everyone listened with rapt attention to every word.

Ambassador Kelly spoke about the great contribution that the Irish have made to North America. He spoke about the vastness of Canada and how long it takes to travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. As an example, it takes five to six hours to fly from Ottawa to Vancouver, about the same amount of time that it takes to fly across to Ireland.

He spoke about the contributions that the Irish were making in Alberta and British Columbia and about Irish communities he encountered on his recent trip to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

He also remarked about the memorial at Grosse Île to those who died in the years of the Great Famine.

Situated in the St. Lawrence River near Quebec City, this is where the many coffin ships arrived from Ireland carrying the starving masses to be processed at the quarantine station.

Many thousands of Irish died and were buried on that island and there is now a huge Celtic cross that marks the mass graves of the Irish.

Speaking about the recession in Ireland, the Ambassador said that there is still a lot of good news coming out of Ireland. To loud approval and applause of the gathered diaspora, he declared "the Celtic Tiger is not dead...only resting and sharpening its teeth."

In closing, Pam Glass, a highly respected member of the Irish community and a former Immigration Judge, stepped forward and presented Ambassador Kelly with the gift of a beautiful B.C. jade carving of the Inukshuk on behalf of the Irish community.

As soon as Ambassador Kelly left the podium, he was surrounded by people all eager to meet and talk with him.

Originally there was a plan for a formal receiving line but that was all abandoned as the welcoming and enthusiastic community took over and began to shake hands and tell their stories.

The talented traditional group Ballyhooley, under the direction of uilleann piper Tim Fanning, really set the tone for the gala evening. They just did a superb job playing Celtic music, and there was really a wonderful atmosphere in the room.

Old friends reconnected with people they hadn't seen in years and still others made new acquaintances.

There can be no doubt that Ambassador Declan Kelly and his gracious wife Anne have met some new friends on the West Coast.

The Ambassador certainly made a huge impact and left some long lasting memories for all those people who came to the Arbutus Club to meet and welcome him on his first official visit to Vancouver.