Irish diaspora honoured at Newport awards night

Michael Kelly (right) from Newport made a special presentation of a picture of Newport’s Seven Arch Bridge to special guest, Jack Chambers, TD.

Michael Commins

THE reaching out to members of the Irish diaspora and especially to some of those who fell on hard times over the years is a noble cause. It takes heart and soul and above all compassion and enduring devotion to our own country people abroad. Such has been the outreach of Kevin Bourke from Ballyvary over many years.
Cherishing the Irish Diaspora Mayo Holiday is another of Kevin’s ventures, and along with Brendan Mulvey, he presided at the culmination of the 2016 venture with a gala awards night in Hotel Newport.
Around 50 people from Monica’s Houses in Birmingham, Manchester Irish Care and the Simon Community in London, were hosted by the Mayo committee as part of one of the best holidays of their lives. They stayed in the Lough Lannagh Holiday Village in Castlebar for the week.

Special awards
Five special awards were presented on the night to honour members of the Irish community aboard for their extraordinary work. The first recipient was Monica Jones, who founded Monica’s Houses for the Homeless in Birmingham. She now operates three houses in the city that provide exceptional care for all who are fortunate enough to have secured places there. She accepted the award from Newport’s own Mickey Kelly.
The Brian Ború Club, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, provides another cherished drop-in and advice service for those who wish to avail of its services. It was founded in 1889 and is one of the longest running Irish ventures in England.
Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, whose help and support was acknowledged by Kevin Bourke, presided at the presentation of this award which was accepted by Brendan Mulvey on behalf of Fr Pat McNally, PP, St Jude’s Parish, Wigan, and the Brian Ború Club. 
Bríd O’Connell and Siamsa StrΡide, Swinford, were honoured for their work over many years. The Dr Kathleen Lynn Memorial Award was presented by Jack Chambers TD to Bríd who extended grateful thanks to all associated with the venture. She also extended words of gratitude to Kevin Bourke and the committee for their outstanding work for the Irish emigrants in the UK.
Harold McManus from Doocastle, who has also been closely associated with the diaspora outreach over the last decade, was the recipient of a special award on the night.
Harold, former Club Captain of Tubbercurry Golf Club 2006, received the Irish Diaspora Award in respect of fundraising work carried out at the club during 2004, 2005 and 2006 when he acted as co-ordinator of a project which would realise €58,000 providing a wheelchair-adapted mini bus to the Irish Welfare and Information Centre in Birmingham, now known as Irish in Birmingham. He accepted his award from Marie Kearns, Castlebar. Kerry native Fr John Ahern, who has served in Manchester and in Peru, was honoured with the Patricia Mooney-Duffy Award in memory of Patricia’s great work in volunteerism and helping so many during her lifetime.
Patricia was a leading light in the Irish community in Manchester for many years and her husband, Tommy Joe Duffy, a native of Killawalla and now resident in Kilmeena, was present on what was an emotional occasion for him. Tommy Joe is an uncle of Mayo News editor, Michael Duffy. Several members of the Duffy family attended the night in Newport.
Fr John expressed his gratitude and heartfelt thanks on being honoured by the Mayo Diaspora Group.  He spoke with great dignity about the work of various groups and the roles they play in various aspects of social inclusion. He also delighted the audience with a gem of a story from the days of the famous Kerry ‘seanachaí, Eamonn Kelly.
Patricia Doherty, formerly of Manchester and now a resident of Westport, presided at the presentation of the award to Fr John Ahern.

Guest speaker
The guest speaker was newly elected TD for Dublin, Jack Chambers, whose dad Frank is from Newport and whose mother Barbara (Farragher) hails from Garrymore. Jack spoke with much fondness about his deep love for Mayo and its people and lauded the efforts of Kevin Bourke and his committee on the great work they do in their outreach to the Irish diaspora in the UK.
Jack was presented with a lovely framed portrait of the Newport Arches Bridge by Mickey Kelly. This was Jack’s first public appearance at a gathering in Mayo since his election as the youngest TD in Dail Eireann earlier this year and he was accorded a very warm welcome ‘home’ to Mayo.
Music on the night was provided by McGrady (Breda and Eddie), Pat Friel, Liam Grealish, Lenny Grimes, the Clew Bay Set Dancers and Mickey Kelly, the Manchester Set Dancers, and local Newport sean nós dancers Eithne Kilroy and Shauna Moran. Well done to everyone involved.