The Trial of Thomas D'arcy Mcgee 

When: Friday April 12th, 2019. Doors open at 7PM, play begins at 8PM
Where: St. Brigid's Centre for the Arts, Kildare Room. 310 St. Patrick Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 5K4. Cumberland Street entrance. 

Admission: $20

The premise is that Thomas D’Arcy McGee (1825 – 1868), Irish rebel and Canadian patriot, is called from the grave to answer, in the Court of History, the charge that he committed treason against Ireland and her people. The prosecutor is John Mitchel (1815 – 1875), an unrepentant physical force republican from both Young Ireland and the Fenians. Sir Charles Gavin Dufy (1816 – 1903), former prime minister of Victoria, defends Thomas D’Arcy McGee against the charge of treason. Both Lawyers have returned from the grave for the occasion.

John A. Macdonald (1815 – 1891), a founding father of the Canadian Confederation and its first prime minister is called as a witness for the prosecution. McGee’s long suffering and loyal wife, Mary Teresa Caffrey (abt. 1830 – 1871) whom he married in 1847 is called as a witness for the defence.

All of the ghosts are aware of what has happened in the world since they entered the grave. The protocol of an earthly court loosely applies. As in previous Russell plays, the audience plays the part of the jury and their decision determines McGee's innocence... or guilt. 

Advanced Online tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-trial-of-darcy-mcgee-a-play-by-anthony-russell-tickets-58460755694 

For more information, please email limelighttheatregroup@gmail.com or call 613.304.5705  

Hailing from the town of Newry in county Down, the Newpoint Players will be performing this hilarious and supremely historical courtroom drama for one night only in Ottawa, as they embark on their third Canadian tour.  

The Trial of the Orange Order

The Thomas D'Arcy McGee Foundation with New Point Players (Ireland) and Limelight Group (Ottawa) Presented a new play by Anthony Russell. 

The Trial of the Orange Order

The Trial of The Orange Order in the Court of History is an historical and political fantasy, a drama that seeks to, as objectively as possible, examine the role of the Orange Order in the formation of modern Ireland and, to a lesser extent, Canada. The charge is treason; defined as the crime of betraying one’s country. 

 

The premise is that Lord Craigavon, James Craig (1871 – 1940), the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland is called from the grave to answer, in the Court of History, the charge that the Orange Order committed treason against Britain and Ireland. The prosecutor is John Mitchel (1815 – 1875), an unrepentant physical force republican from both Young Ireland and the Fenians.  Lord Edward Carson (1854 – 1935) who led the unionist opposition to Irish Home Rule defends the Orange Order against the charge of treason. Both Lawyers have returned from the grave for the occasion, to exchange ideas, 'facts', and prejudice with with and passion.

 

Thomas D’Arcy McGee (1825 – 1868), a former Irish rebel who became a founding father of the Canadian Confederation is called as a witness, for the defence - as is the murdered Mrs. Elizabeth Crozier, from farming stock in Ulster.

All of the ghosts are aware of what has happened in both Ireland and Canada since they entered the grave.

 

This play offers a superbly engaging dimension to the play, in which it sees the audience debate the issues in the play as jurors in the jury room! This facilitates a participate role for the audience enabling them to deliberate on the issues as presented by prosecution and defence, as well as voting on the final outcome, just like in a real trial. Therefore the ending may be different in each performance!!

This play follows on from the Trial of P. H. Pearse in the Court of History which entertained and engaged audiences on both sides of the Atlantic as it examined the use of the gun in Irish politics.

Cast and Crew

John Mitchell - Donal O'Hanlon

Lord Edward Carson - Sean Treanor

Sir James Craig, Lord Craigavon - Pat Mooney

Thomas D'Arcy McGee - Gerry O'Connor 

Mrs. Crozier - Diane Russell

The Court Clerck - Damien Fannon (Ottawa)

The Judge - Jammes Leal (Ottawa)

Playwright - Anthony Russell

Director Donal O'Hanlon

Musical Director - Gerry O'Connor

Project Coordination - Tommy Fegan

The drama was commissioned for the Thomas D'Arcy McGee Summer School in Carlingford, August 2017.

In Ottawa the play was performed at the St. Brigid's Centre for the Arts.

Canada, The Irish Language and the Easter Uprising 1916: A Commemoratory Conference, Part 2

      A Commemoratory Conference, Part 2

Bríd Guglich, Uachtarán Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada ag an insealbhú i dteannta Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh. 

On Saturday 20 February 2016 at the Irish Ambassador Residence, there was a Commemoratory Conference to reflect what Canada, and the Irish Language had in common with the Easter Uprising of 1916.

The day began with several lectures (parallel session in English and Irish):

Program:

10:00 – 11:00: Lecture – The Uprising in the Context of Irish History Speaker:   

                       His Excellency, Dr. Ray Bassett

11:00 – 12:00: Lecture – The Irish Language and the Uprising 

                       Speaker: Cllr Niall Ó Donnghaile, former Mayor of Belfast 

13:00 – 14:00: Lecture – Canada and the Easter Uprising
                       Speaker: Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh,
                       Canadian Military College, Kingston, Ontario

14:00 – 15:00: Lecture – Katherine Hughes (Canadian Activist) and the Easter       

                       Uprising Speaker, Dr. Pádraig Ó Siadhail,
                       St Mary’s University Halifax, Nova Scotia Memorial Service

Ray Bassett, Ambasadóir na hÉireann ag labhairt ag an bhFáiltiú.

The day ended with a Memorial Service:
  

Clr. Niall Ó Donnghaile, iar-mhéara Bhéal Feirste, ag léamh Forógra Phoblacht na hÉireann ag an Searmanas Leagan Bláthfhleasc. 

Introduction – His Excellency, Dr.Ray Bassett, Ambassador of Ireland
Amhrán na Trá Báine: Mícheál Newell
Excerpt from the Speech from the Dock, Robert Emmet: Eithne Dunbarra Excerpt from the Funeral Oration for O’Donovan Rossa: Oisín Montanari The Rebel, P.H. Mac Piarias (trans: Brian Ó Baoill):
Antaine Dunbarra/Toni Forsythe Sean Nós Song: Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
The Rose Tree (trans: Brian Ó Baoill): Síle Scott Freedom’s Sons: Shane Dunne
Róisín Dubh: Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh Grace: Dan McHale
Wreath Laying
Lament on the Harp: Mary Muckle
Moment of Silence
Lament on the Pipes (outside, flag): Bethany Bisaillion Proclamation of the Irish Republic
Flag Raising
Amhrán na bhFiann
Ó Canada

"When the position of Ireland's language as her greatest heritage is once fixed, all other matters will insensibly adjust themselves. As it develops, and because it develops, it will carry all kindred movements with it. When Ireland's language is established, her own distinct culture is assured. To preserve and spread the language, then, is the single idea of the Gaelic League.” Patrick Pearse

Sponsored by: Cumann na Gaeltachta, The Embassy of Ireland, Glór na nGael, Friends of Sinn Féin; Heart and Crown Irish Pub, Ottawa Comhaltas

The Irish Proclamation was read in both Irish (Clr. Niall Ó Donnghaile) and English (Dr.Ray Bassett, Ambassador of Ireland)

POBLACHT NA hÉIREANN
THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC TO THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND

IRISHMEN AND IRISHWOMEN: In the name of God and of the dead generations from which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland, through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom.

Having organised and trained her manhood through her secret revolutionary organisation, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and through her open military organisations, the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army, having patiently perfected her discipline, having resolutely waited for the right moment to reveal itself, she now seizes that moment, and supported by her exiled children in America and by gallant allies in Europe, but relying in the first on her own strength, she strikes in full confidence of victory.

We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible. The long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and government has not extinguished the right, nor can it ever be extinguished except by the destruction of the Irish people. In every generation the Irish people have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty; six times during the past three hundred years they have asserted it in arms. Standing on that fundamental right and again asserting it in arms in the face of the world, we hereby proclaim the Irish Republic as a Sovereign Independent State, and we pledge our lives and the lives of our comrades in arms to the cause of its freedom, of its welfare, and of its exaltation among the nations.

The Irish Republic is entitled to, and hereby claims, the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman. The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all of the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien Government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.

Until our arms have brought the opportune moment for the establishment of a permanent National Government, representative of the whole people of Ireland and elected by the suffrages of all her men and women, the Provisional Government, hereby constituted, will administer the civil and military affairs of the Republic in trust for the people.

We place the cause of the Irish Republic under the protection of the Most High God, Whose blessing we invoke upon our arms, and we pray that no one who serves that cause will dishonour it by cowardice, inhumanity, or rapine. In this supreme hour the Irish nation must, by its valour and discipline, and by the readiness of its children to sacrifice themselves for the common good, prove itself worthy of the august destiny to which it is called.

Signed on behalf of the Provisional Government:

THOMAS J. CLARKE, SEAN Mac DIARMADA, THOMAS MacDONAGH, P. H. PEARSE EAMONN CEANNT, JAMES CONNOLLY, JOSEPH PLUNKETT


POBLACHT NA hÉIREANN
RIALTAS SEALADACH PHOBLACHT NA hÉIREANN DO MHUINTIR NA hÉIREANN

A FHEARA AGUS A MHNÁ NA hÉIREANN : In ainm Dé agus in ainm na nglún a chuaigh romhainn agus óna bhfuair sí seanoideas na náisiúntachta, tá Éire, trínne, ag gairm a clainne faoina bratach agus ag bualadh buille ar son a saoirse.

Tar éis di a fir a eagrú agus a oiliúint ina heagraíocht rúnda réabhlóideach, Bráithreachas Phoblacht na hÉireann, agus ina heagraíochtaí míleata poiblí, Óglaigh na hÉireann agus Arm Cathartha na hÉireann, agus tar éis di a riailbhéas a thabhairt go foighneach chun foirfeachta agus feitheamh go buanseasmhach leis an bhfaill chun gnímh, tá sí ag glacadh na faille sin anois, agus, le cabhair óna clainn ar deoraíocht i Meiriceá agus ó chomh-ghuaillithe calma san Eoraip, ach, thar gach ní, le muinín as a neart dílis féin, tá sí ag bualadh buille i ndóchas iomlán go mbéarfaidh sí bua.

Dearbhaímid gur ceart ceannasach dochlóite ceart mhuintir na hÉireann chun seilbh na hÉireann, agus chun dála na hÉireann a stiúradh gan chosc gan cheataí. Níor cuireadh an ceart sin ar ceal leis an bhforghabháil a rinne pobal eachtrannach agus a rialtas air le cian d’aimsir ná ní féidir go brách a chur ar ceal ach trí dhíothú mhuintir na hÉireann. Níl aon ghlúin dá dtáinig nár dhearbhaigh pobal na hÉireann a gceart chun saoirse agus ceannas a náisiúin; sé huaire le trí chéad bliain anuas dhearbhaíodar faoi airm é. Ag seasamh dúinn ar an gceart bunaidh sin agus á dhearbhú arís faoi airm os comhair an tsaoil, fógraímid leis seo Poblacht na hÉireann ina Stát Ceannasach Neamhspleách agus cuirimid ár n-anam féin agus anam ár gcomrádaithe comhraic i ngeall lena saoirse agus lena leas, agus lena móradh i measc na náisiún.

Dlíonn Poblacht na hÉireann, agus éilíonn sí leis seo, géillsine ó mhuintir uile na hÉireann, idir fhir agus mhná. Ráthaíonn an phoblacht saoirse creidimh agus saoirse shibhialta, comhchearta agus comhdheiseanna, dá saoránaigh uile, agus dearbhaíonn sí gurb é a rún séan agus sonas a lorg don náisiún uile agus do gach roinn di, le comhchúram do chlainn uile an náisiúin, agus le neamhairt ar an easaontas a cothaíodh d’aontoisc eatarthu ag rialtas eachtrannach agus lér deighleadh mionlucht ón tromlach san am atá imithe.

Go dtí go dtabharfaidh feidhm ár n-arm an t-ionú dúinn Buan-Rialtas Náisiúnta a bhunú ó theachtaí do phobal uile na hÉireann arna dtoghadh le vótaí a cuid fear agus ban, déanfaidh an Rialtas Sealadach, a bhunaítear leis seo, cúrsaí sibhialta agus míleata na Poblachta a riaradh thar ceann an phobail.

Cuirimid cúis Phoblacht na hÉireann faoi choimirce Dhia Mór na nUile-chumhacht agus impímid A bheannacht ar ár n-airm; iarraimid gan aon duine a bheas ag fónamh sa chúis sin do tharraingt easonóra uirthi le mílaochas, le mídhaonnacht ná le slad. San uair oirbheartach seo is é dualgas náisiún na hÉireann a chruthú, lena misneach agus lena dea-iompar agus le toil a clainne á dtoirbhirt féin ar son na maitheasa poiblí, go dtuilleann sí an réim ró-uasal is dán di.

Arna shíniú thar ceann an Rialtais Shealadaigh,

TOMÁS Ó CLÉIRIGH, SEÁN MAC DIARMADA, TOMÁS MAC DONNCHADHA,   PÁDRAIC MAC PIARAIS, ÉAMONN CEANNT,  SÉAMUS Ó CONGHAILE, IÓSEPH Ó PLUINGCÉAD

Canada, The Irish Language and the Easter Uprising 1916: A Commemoratory Conference

Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh, who is one of our members, and founding chair of the North American Gaeltacht is working with the Irish Embassy to organize a commemorative conference at the Ambassador’s Residence on 19/20 February about the 1916 Uprising. 

Members are strongly encouraged to attend. During the conference reception on Friday 19 February, at the Ambassador's residence, another of our members, Bríd Guglich, is being honored by investiture as the President of Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada. The poster concerning that investiture is also attached. It would be nice if we could have a strong contingent present from the branch present to give Bríd our congratulations.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/canada-the-irish-language-and-the-easter-uprising-1916-tickets-20635959711

Canada, The Irish Language and the Easter Uprising 1916: A Commemoratory Conference

LIMITED ATTENDANCE (110 max)

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

LOCATION: Irish Ambassador’s Residence, 291 Park Road, Ottawa

DATES: 19 and 20 February 2016

DETAILS: Click Here

ACCOMMODATION: Best rates at Days Inn Ottawa, 319 Rideau Street

SPEAKERS: 
Dr. Pádraig Ó Siadhail, Head of Irish Studies, St. Mary’s University Halifax

Cllr. Niall Ó Donnghaile, former Mayor of Belfast

Dr. Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh, Royal Military College of Canada

Representative of the Republic of Ireland (TBA)



SEAN NÓS SINGING WORKSHOP: Michael Newell, Boston (Ros Muc, Connemara)

COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE: 3:00 pm, Saturday 20 February (free)



RECENT UPDATE:

Due to popular demand, the conference lectures on Saturday 20 February will now be run in parallel sessions, one in English, and one in Irish (simultaneous translation):

We hope that you will join us!

Celtic Chair Lecture Series - Ottawa University

The Department of Modern Languages and Literature of the University of  Ottawa presents the Celtic Chair Lecture Series. 

"Irish Chaplains in World War I"

by Niall Keogh, PhD. (Limerick)

Thursday, 13 February, 7:30pm

University of Ottawa, FAUTEUX HALL, Room 147B. Lecture will be in English.

       

For more information contact Paul W. Birt

You could join the TEG classes afterward and discuss the topic in Irish!

TEG classes are at University of Ottawa, Rm DMS 3105.

Tar Abhaile ("Come Home")

This is part of a message we received from members of other CCEs in North America.

Where: TG4 http://www.tg4.ie/en/programmes/tar-abhaile.html

When: Episode 2, November 24th at 9:30pm Irish Time (4:30pm in Ontario)


Tar Abhaile ("Come Home")

Hosted by broadcaster Evelyn O’Rourke, Tar Abhaile is a new six part series on TG4 that follows local Irish communities as they welcome people from across the globe in search of their Irish ancestors. You will see twelve different Irish descendants and their families, scattered all over the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK, travel to Ireland to reconnect with their Irish roots. 

Ultimately, Tar Abhaile is about real people and their unique stories, their unique journey and their unique connection with Ireland. It pivots on Reconnection, Reunion and Homecoming.


Episode 1 - Sunday, 17.11.13, features families in Chicago and Australia.

Episode 2 - Sunday, 24.11.13, features families in Ontario, Canada, and Chicago.

Episode 3 - Sunday, 1.12.13, features families in Australia and Beauval,Canada.

Episode 4 - Sunday, 8.12.13, features families in Arizona and New Zealand.

Episode 5 - Sunday, 15.12.13, features families in Detroit and Arizona.

Episode 6 - Sunday, 22.12.13, features families in Virginia.

Isle of Irish despair

Not long ago I came across an old article titled “Isle of Irish despair,” by S. Kingsmill, and V. Wilkinson. Canadian Geographic, January/February 1992, 112(1):78-83.

I was surprised to learn that one of the islands we saw from Île d’Orleans last summer, had such a tragic history, for being Canada’s first quarantine station for Irish immigrants. The article recalls the “Summer of Sorrow,” when nearly 100,000 Irish immigrants arrived in Grosse Île, situated 50 kilometers downriver from Quebec City. It tells of the Irish immigration to North America in the 19th century, of people fleeing famine in Ireland and bringing sickness with them, those that survived the ocean crossing faced the quarantine on the island. It is estimated that 5,400 people died at Grosse Île during the summer of 1847.

If you are interested in learning more, check Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/qc/grosseile/natcul/natcul1/b.aspx

You can also see Newspapers reports from 1847 where are listed all the ships that docked at Grosse Île: 

http://jubilation.uwaterloo.ca/~marj/genealogy/thevoyage.html and http://www.theshipslist.com


By P. Avendano