St Patricks Day
I emigrated here in 1987. As many as one million Irish had made the same trip before me and quite a few have since. Among them were convicts and radicals, priests and judges, nurses and nuns, saints and scholars.
I became a citizen in June, 1994, alongside 90 other Irish expats at the Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney – a building that how houses a beautiful monument to the Great Irish Famine. It was an emotional day. The significance of embracing a new citizenship was not lost on any of us. Irish and Australian songs were played and sung.
The Department of Immigration wondered why so many Irish had suddenly decided that they would become Australian citizens. It was not an impulse move. The Irish had waited patiently for Australia to change. Weeks earlier, the Labor government had gotten rid of a certain oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth, the English monarch. Now, almost 20 years later, we are waiting for Australia to change again.
Continue reading "It’s St Paddy’s Day: Bring on the republic!" »
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SLF says:
As someone of Irish ancestry, it amazes me that the rest of the world care. And to be honest I find most of it really rather sad and embarassing, particularly the antics of the Americans. Dyeing the river green, drinking green lager, going on marches, donating to the IRA etc… Read more »
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Geoff says:
Was going to have a quiet drinking session in Melbourne this morning but have missed my flight (no, not because I was too drunk…) Looks like that drink will have to wait for this arvo, does anyone outside of Ireland know what it’s really about? Read more »
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