September 23rd, 2021
Normally I begin my September reports recounting what I did on my summer vacation and often there is an element related to the history of our community. I can honestly say, other than documenting some UIS archival material and interacting with noted author Alan Hustak, I have done little in that regard. What I did manage to do is safely meet with friends on occasion, visit the pool in the complex almost daily, and walk around the neighbourhood.
We have lost a number of people over the summer. We said goodbye to Catherine Polson, Frances Gillan, Raymond Savard, and our beloved Jane Skelton.
We first got to know Catherine in 2015 when she competed in the United Irish Societies’ annual Selection Evening. At the time I noticed what a good public speaker she was and that she had a pretty good shot at winning the competition. While she lost out to Carly Meredith, Cat got busy as a parade princess and so we saw her at every event, from the more intimate ones to the bigger ones. Quite often princesses and queens fade into the sunset, rarely to be seen again. Cat was an exception, and exceptional. She kept active within the UIS, attended events, volunteered her time for such important work as the Christmas Basket program, and joined our Polar Bear Plunge team benefitting Special Olympics Quebec. I was proud to have her as one of the directors at the St. Patrick’s Society,
Frances Gillan was a quiet and unassuming member of the UIS Entertainment Committee in its heyday. She always without fail gave her 100% in performing for the shut-ins and those who most benefitted from the committee’s volunteerism. In her latter years she retreated gracefully as she battled Alzheimer’s Disease. Though the organization never forgot Frances, the organization is forever grateful for the contributions she made to the United Irish Societies of Montreal and its mission. Sadly, she lost her battle prior to August 15th.
The United Irish Societies of Montreal selected City of Verdun Mayor Raymond Savard as Chief Reviewing Officer of the 1989 St. Patrick’s Parade. While quite often former dignitaries fade away after they are honoured, Mr. Savard continued to be a regular at our activities. He proudly wore his sash when attending the Parade or the Mass of Anticipation. During his son André’s time as Verdun Borough Councillor, Mr. Savard was known to attend the annual Verdun Mayor’s reception as his guest. During his time in office he saw the wisdom in protecting Verdun’s valuable shoreline from real estate developers. All Verdunites and visitors now have a wonderful waterfront to enjoy and it’s thanks to Mr. Savard’s vision. Sadly on July 20th Mr. Savard left this world after a career in business and of public service.
As we all know, a little over a week ago Jane Skelton passed away. She was one of the more senior UIS members in terms of longevity, having joined somewhere around 1990 or 1991 and she was most definitely the most senior Executive Committee member, excluding the past presidents, being named chairperson of the Float Committee in the Spring of 1994 for the 1995 season in the days when UIS members decorated a float pursuant to that year’s parade theme.
She moved over to chair the Membership Committee for the 1996 and 1997 seasons before joining the Elected Executive as Corresponding Secretary (1998 – 2005) and Treasurer (2006 – 2010, 2013 – 2021).
When necessary Jane also stepped in to lead other committees – Christmas Baskets (2012 – 2016) and Entertainment Committee (2000 – 2001, 2005)
She was an entertainer at heart and enjoyed bringing some sunshine into the lives of shutins and those needing a little pick me up through her association with the UIS Entertainment group.
For her years of dedication to the organization, in the Spring of 2019 outgoing president Paul Loftus presented Jane with Gold Card (Life) Membership in the UIS.
I look back now with regret that the organization did not consider her for the Simon McDonaugh Humanitarian Award because, looking back on her time on the Executive, she went about her volunteerism in a quiet and unassuming way much like I am sure Simon McDonaugh did.
I will miss her critters, her bananas, and her presence at meetings and events.
Ken Quinn
Historian – The United Irish Societies of Montreal
historian@montrealirishparade.com
Au cours des dernières semaines, le comité exécutif des Sociétés irlandaises unies de Montréal a suivi de très près la situation du COVID-19 et a discuté quotidiennement avec nos partenaires et différents paliers de gouvernement. Nous avons également discuté de la situation avec nos amis dans plusieurs organisations irlandaises du monde entier et avons beaucoup appris de leurs expériences. Notre objectif a été de prendre la meilleure décision possible pour atténuer les inquiétudes et garantir que nos responsabilités ont été remplies.
Le défilé de la St Patrick à Montréal se tient consécutivement depuis 1824 et Sociétés irlandaises unies de Montréal ont l’honneur de l’organiser depuis 1929. Il y a une responsabilité envers nos membres, notre communauté et notre histoire et d’assurer la continuité de cet événement et nous assumons cette responsabilité très sérieusement.
Avec la conférence de presse d’aujourd’hui tenue par le premier ministre et en collaboration avec la ville de Montréal, nous avons tous deux jugé qu’il était dans l’intérêt de la santé et de la sécurité, des participants au défilé et du grand public de reporter le 197e défilé de la St Patrick à Montréal. Nous serons sûrs de tenir tous informés de nos projets futurs.
Nous remercions nos membres, nos sociétés sœurs et nos partenaires pour leur soutien et leur compréhension et nous vous souhaitons à tous une bonne Saint-Patrick.
Veuillez nous suivre sur nos comptes de médias sociaux @uismtl et sur notre site Web www.montrealirishparade.com pour d’autres mises à jour au cours des prochains jours et semaines.
Click Here to Purchase TicketsOver the last several weeks the Executive Committee of the United Irish Societies of Montreal have been monitoring the COVID-19 situation very closely and have been in discussion with our partners and different levels of government on a daily basis. We have also been discussing the situation with our friends in Irish organizations across the globe and have learned a lot from their experiences. Our goal has been to make the best decision possible to mitigate concerns and to ensure our responsibilities have been met.
Montreal’s St Patrick’s Parade has been held consecutively since 1824 and the United Irish Societies have had the honour of hosting it since 1929. There is a responsibility to our members, our community and our history and ensure the continuity of this event and we take this responsibility very seriously.
With today’s press conference held by the Premier and in collaboration with the City of Montreal we have both deemed it in the best interests of health and safety, Parade participants, and the general public to postpone Montreal’s 197th St Patrick’s Parade. We will be sure to keep all informed of our future plans.
We thank our members, sister societies, and partners for their support and understanding and we wish you all a Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Please follow us on our social media account @uismtl and our website www.montrealirishparade.com for further updates over the coming days & weeks.
Click Here to Purchase TicketsAlors que la saison irlandaise bat son plein, nous attendons avec impatience l’événement de clôture, le banquet annuel et le souper dansant, qui aura lieu le samedi 4 avril à EVO Centreville (777 boul. Robert-Bourassa). Nous espérons vous voir!
90,00 $ chacun (Tableaux de 10 disponibles)
Vin gratuit jusqu’au dessert – 2 billets de boisson gratuits inclus
Détails pour la soirée:
17h00 – 18h00 Remise des prix du défilé
18h00 – 19h00 Cocktails (bière et vin)
19h00 – Dîner et danse – Dîner rôti de boeuf “Prime Rib” – (poisson / végétarien si nécessaire)
Groupe: Good Time Charlie & D.J. Ryan Kennedy
With the Irish Season in full swing we are looking forward to the closing event, the annual Awards Banquet and Dinner Dance, taking place Saturday April 4th at EVO Centreville (777 boul. Robert-Bourassa). We hope to see you there!
$90.00 each (Tables of 10 available)
Complimentary Wine until dessert – 2 Complimentary drink tickets included
Details for the evening:
5:00 – 6:00 Parade Award Presentations
6:00 – 7:00 Cocktails (Beer & Wine)
7:00 – Dinner & Dance – Prime Rib Roast Beef Dinner – (Fish/Vegetarian where needed)
Band: Good Time Charlie & D.J. Ryan Kennedy
On March 5th at Concordia’s School of Irish Studies’ McEntee Reading Room Professor Jane McGaughey, Associate Professor of Diaspora Studies, presented a wonderful lecture about a man who is unavoidably tied to Montreal’s Irish community, Dr. Edmund Bailey O’Callaghan.
The lecture was well attended by UIS members, members of the wider community, and students alike.
We would like to thank the School of Irish Studies, Dr. Michael Kenneally, and Professor McGaughey for helping the UIS to organize the lecture.
The School offers numerous public lectures throughout the year. We strongly encourage you to consider attending lectures that pique your interest.
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Le 5 mars, à la salle de lecture McEntee de l’école des études irlandaises de Concordia la professeure Jane McGaughey, professeure agrégée d’études sur la diaspora, a présenté une merveilleuse conférence sur un homme qui est inévitablement lié à la communauté irlandaise de Montréal, le docteur Edmund Bailey O’Callaghan.
La conférence a attiré de nombreux membres du UIS, des membres de la communauté ellargi et des étudiants.
Nous remercions l’école des études irlandaises, le docteur Michael Kenneally et la professeure McGaughey d’avoir aidé le UIS à organiser la conférence.
L’école propose de nombreuses conférences publiques tout au long de l’année. Nous vous encourageons fortement à envisager d’assister à des conférences qui piquent votre intérêt.
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With the Holiday Season over and done with, focus shifts to the Irish Season
Kicking it off for the United Irish Societies is the 65th Annual Queen’s Selection Evening, a public speaking contest open to women of Irish descent (or birth) between the ages of 18 and 25 living in the Montreal area.
The event takes place on Saturday February 1st at the EVO Centreville on boul. Robert-Bourassa.
For your convenience you can purchase tickets <a href=”https://selection2020.brownpapertickets.com/”>here</a>
We look forward to seeing you on February 1st.
Click Here to Purchase TicketsLa période des fêtes terminée, le focus se porte sur la saison irlandaise
Le coup d’envoi pour les sociétés irlandaises unies est la 65e soirée de sélection de la reine et princesses du défilé, un concours de prise de parole en public (principalement en anglais) ouvert aux femmes d’origine irlandaise (ou de naissance) âgées de 18 à 25 ans vivant dans la région de Montréal.
L’événement aura lieu le samedi 1er février à l’EVO Centreville sur le boul. Robert-Bourassa.
Pour votre commodité, vous pouvez acheter vos billets <a href=”https://selection2020.brownpapertickets.com/”> ici </a>
Au plaisir de vous voir le 1er février.
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Several dozen members and friends gathered at Verdun Adult and Career Centre on December 14th with the goal of assembling and distributing over fifty five Christmas Baskets to families in need. Members are friends have been making a difference in the community for over fifty years.
We were pleased to see some youngsters helping out as well as little ones Liam, Quinn, and Jack spreading joy to all they met.
We are thankful that elected officials David Lametti, Sterling Downey, Luc Gagnon, and Mary Ann Davis rolled up their sleeves and got to work. With busy schedules at this time of year, we cannot stress enough how grateful we are.
Cathy Doyle and her team did a fantastic job. Because of them, and besause of each volunteer, the UIS has made a difference in the lives of over fifty five families.
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UNITED IRISH SOCIETIES
OF MONTREAL
Organizers of the St. Patrick’s Parade
PO BOX 97544
Verdun, QC, H4G 3M6
SOCIÉTÉS IRLANDAISES UNIES
DE MONTRÉAL
Organisateurs du Défilé
de la Saint-Patrick
Boîte postale 97544
Verdun QC, H4G 3M6
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