Red carpet rolled out in Tipperary for Newfoundland visitors

A party of 44 people from Newfoundland were treated to an an action-packed weekend in Carrick-on-Suir where they enjoyed its music, food, social and cultural life and learned about the rich history of the town and district.

The group from Canada's most Irish province stayed with host families in Carrick-on-Suir and surrounding areas from Friday, August 21 to Monday morning, August 24. It was one leg of their 10-day cultural exchange trip to Ireland's South East that also took in visits to Enniscorthy, Kilkenny and Waterford's Ring Gaeltacht.

The exchange trip was part of a revived twinning arrangement between the Ireland Newfoundland Connections group and its Canadian counterpart called Newfoundland & Labrador Irish Connections.

The South East has strong historic links to Newfoundland. More than 30,000 people from this region emigrated to the north-eastern Canadian province between the 1600s and 1830 due to its thriving fishing industry.

Suir Valley Newfoundland Ireland Connections Committee Chairperson Sylvia Cooney-Sheehan said it was wonderful to welcome back visitors from Newfoundland, who were people of Irish descent coming home to find their ancestors' roots.

She hosted five of the tourists and paid tribute to all the other host families without whom the Newfoundlanders' sojourn in Carrick wouldn't have been possible.

During their visit, the group enjoyed a walking tour of Carrick-on-Suir and a tour of the town's Tides of Time Visitor Centre where they viewed the reconstructed office of renowned Carrick poet Michael Coady, who did so much during his life to highlight the strong historic connections between Carrick and Newfoundland.

They attended the town's Brewery Lane Theatre for a performance of Lady Gregory's one-act comic play, Spreading the News, by Brewery Lane Drama Group members.

The Canadians enjoyed evening meals each night at Ó'Ceilleacháin's Pub on Main Street where they were also treated to entertainment from Carrick musicians and singers and their own group, The Islanders.

Kevin Power and former Garda Band leader Billy Byrne performed for them on the first night. Carrick Musical Society singers Sandra Power, Helen Hahessy, Irene Malone and Louise Quinlan supported by musicians Gaye Brazel and Willie Stewart entertained the Canadians at O'Ceilleachain's the following night while Neill Bourke and Kevin Power played and sang for them on the Sunday night.

Sylvia thanked publican Neill Callaghan and his daughter Saoirse, local musicians and singers for showing such hospitality to the tourists.

Another highlight was visiting the Iverk Agricultural Show in Piltown on a beautiful sunny Saturday. The Islanders performed for the crowd on the bands stage.

“The Iverk Show went down very well with them. The Islanders were taken aback with the reception they received. The show was like one of their regatta or fair days in Newfoundland. They were delighted with the whole event,” said Sylvia.

The Newfoundlanders also ventured outside Carrick-on-Suir on the Sunday morning to attend an outdoor Mass celebrated by Fr Jimmy Browne at the Kylatlea Mass rock near Mullinahone. St Michael's Parish Choir performed at the ceremony.

The group also visited the ruins of Young Ireland leader Thomas Francis Meagher's family homestead near Kilcash. Their busy morning concluded with refreshments and music entertainment provided by Chris O'Brien and Panie Bartley at the Auld House Pub in Killamery.

Sylvia thanked her fellow Suir Valley Newfoundland Ireland Connections Committee members Walter Dunphy, Margaret Doyle, Chris and Tom Bartley, Mary O'Callaghan, Sean Callaghan, Walter Power and John Roche for their work in organising a weekend to remember for the visitors.

A group from the South East will make a return trip to St John's in Newfoundland next year.

Sylvia invited anyone interested in taking part in the exchange trip to email her at [email protected] or Ireland Newfoundland Connnections Chairman Mick Murphy at [email protected]