Canadian Ambassador to attend MacDonagh weekend in Cloughjordan
Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Michael Vickers will be among the guests at 'Cloughjordan Honours Thomas MacDonagh' this Saturday, in recognition of the local families that emigrated to Canada 200 years ago.
In this, the tenth annual ‘Cloughjordan Honours Thomas MacDonagh’ weekend, the Cloughjordan Heritage Group commemorates three aspects of our heritage.
In the 1918 General Election, Joseph, MacDonagh was elected a Member of Parliament to represent North Tipperary. He became a member of the first Dáil Éireann and deputy Minister of Labour to Countess Markievicz. We celebrate his contribution to Ireland’s independence.
‘Sé 125 bliain ó cuireadh tús le hAthbeochan na Gaeilge.’ The revival of the Irish language greatly influenced Thomas MacDonagh and through its activities he befriended Alice Milligan, a dynamic lady from Ulster, whose work energised the cultural revival. The Sunday afternoon speaker, John Walsh of NUIG, traces the use of Irish to the present day. There is no need to be a fluent speaker to enjoy the talks. Beidh fáilte roimh go léir go dtí an Óiche Ghaelach.
The bi-centenary of the Talbot Expedition to Canada is commemorated on Saturday afternoon. We welcome the Corbett family from Canada, descendants of those 1818 pioneers, and the support of Judith Colbert from London, Ontario. Guest speakers will recall those days where people from local areas went in search of a better future. Cloughjordan No 1 and St Michael’s National Schools have been working on a related project, which they will present during the weekend.
Popular events from other years included in the programme are: Cloughjordan Writers Group - members will read from their original work in our local ‘Sunday Miscellany’. Bawney Hayes hosts an evening of exceptional talent in his Saturday Rambling House, and, as ever, Monday is given to the natural environment that was the inspiration for the poetry of MacDonagh. Gearóid Ó Foighil, has organised a guided visit to the boardwalk along the Scohaboy Bog Restoration Project.
The Heritage Group is grateful to Tipperary County Council and Foras na Gaeilge for their support for the programme of events for the 10th Annual Thomas MacDonagh Weekend.