It's all over till August 2010!

It's always great to receive compliments from the participants of Shamrock in the Bush and this year was no exception with comments such as this from a happy Shamrocker -- Just wanted to say a very big thank you for all your efforts in making this year's Shamrock in the Bush such a lovely event. We all had a wonderful few days.

From the organiser's perspective we also enjoyed the event and would very much like to thank our speakers, some of whom travelled several thousand kilometres to deliver outstanding presentations on a wide range of topics, as well as the participants who have continued to support this event. It was a fun weekend with musicians Adrian Barker, Ben Stephenson, Jen Kelson and Richard Herrman as well as our resident minstrel and bard John Dengate adding their talents to the jampacked program.Editor of the Irish Echo Billy Cantwell, gave an engaging account of his experiences as the editor of the only Irish newspaper in Australia, at the Shamrock Dinner in Galong House, where 100 guests shared a gourmet meal

The winning ticket for the Shamrock in the Bush 2010 package was drawn by speaker Richard Stone at the conclusion of the weekend on Sunday 9th August. Long time supporter of events at St Clement's, Robert Lehane was the winner of two places at next year's event from 5 to 8 August 2010. The happy winner of last year's raffle June McCluskey, another supporter of our events at Galong, cheerfully volunteered to ensure all the tickets were sold.
Added 20 August 2009

Seventeenth Shamrock in the Bush

Bookings for the seventeenth Shamrock in the Bush are now open.

This year we have a yet another interesting program. Keynote speaker for the gathering which commences on the evening of Thursday 6 August will be Dr Gordon Forth, formerly of Deakin University. A further nineteen speakers and musicians will present papers on topics ranging from the Anglo Irish, Fenians, murderers, soldiers, musicians, and poets to politicians, bushrangers, literature, art, language and Celtic spirituality. Music and verse by our minstrel John Dengate will compliment the presentations.

A highlight of the event will be the Shamrock Dinner in Galong House where Edward 'Ned' Ryan once held high revel and dispensed hospitality to family, friends, neighbours and travellers. Guest speaker will be Billy Cantwell, editor of the Irish Echo with music by two of Australia's best regarded exponents of Irish music - Adrian Barker and Ben Stephenson.

This year we visit the historic Black Swan in Binalong for a session of verse, music and Irish country hospitality. Good company, warm open fires, and a delicious tea make it a great way to spend a winter afternoon.

Saturday night will be Live @ Ned Ryan's when we take several steps back in time with a unique presentation on one of Ireland's foremost families - the Fitzgeralds, by one of their own, Alan Fitzgerald.

This event is too good to miss and we urge prospective participants to book early to avoid disappointment.
Added 5 March 2009

St Clement's Historians

Work to transform the library and museum spaces has been continuing behind the scenes with the sorting of further donations to the St Clement's collection. Recent donations of Irish, Irish-Australian and Australiana publications from the collections of Fr Frank Keogh, Fr Anthony Kelly and Fr Barney Lynch have added significantly to the library.

A new page dedicated to matters of historical interest at St Clement's will be available shortly.
Added 1 March 2009

Far from Famine

The commemorative and celebratory event concluded on Tuesday 7 October after a program that ranged from the archaeological remnants of the famine landscape of Ireland to the building of famine memorials in Australia, visiting workhouses and immigration depots along the way.The event culminated with a special ecumenical thanksgiving service and concert.
Added 7 October 2008

And the winner is ...!

The winning ticket for the Shamrock in the Bush 2009 package for two was drawn by keynote speaker Michael Gibbons after the Far from Famine concert on Monday 6th October. Congratulations to June McCluskey, a supporter of our events at Galong.
Added 7 October 2008

Far from Famine registrations

There are still places available in either single or shared accommodation for Far from Famine, an event commemorating the lives of more than 4,000 young female immigrants who were recruited from the Union workhouses of Ireland to settle in the colonies. Comprehensive information on this unique and exciting event together with the registration details are on this website.
Added 1 September 2008

Do you have unwanted books?

The library at St Clement's has undergone some major changes in recent weeks with the sorting of books and reshelving of the collection nearing completion. Several individuals have contributed to the collection from their own libraries. Collectively some 400 volumes have been donated by Fr Brian Maher, Frank McMahon and Fr John O'Brien. We are actively seeking books for the Irish, Irish-Australian and Australiana sections of the library. If you have publications that you are willing to donate to the library please contact us to arrange collection.
Added 1 September 2008

Sixteenth Shamrock in the Bush

The annual event concluded today, after a series of interesting presentations by some very talented speakers. The event continues to attract participants from far and wide - Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Highlights of the weekend were the Shamrock Dinner in Galong House with guest speaker Dr Nicholas Brown and the first Live @ Ned Ryan's concert, showcasing the talents of the participants. Keep an eye out for the release of the 2009 program - you could win two places for the event. See our fundraising page for details.
Added 3 August 2008

Far from Famine registrations are now open!

The program for Far from Famine has been released today! Those of you who have advised your contact details have been emailed details of the program and a registration form. These forms can be found on this website on the program and registration pages.
Added 31 July 2008

Extra speaker for Shamrock

An additional presentation has been added to the advertised program with Dr Jeff Kildea speaking on Billy Hughes and the Irish Question. Dr Kildea recently authored a publication on Hughes for the Department of Veterans' Affairs Wartime Australians series to coincide with the opening of an exhibition on Hughes at the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne. The exhibition will move to Old Parliament House, Canberra in June 2008 before touring regional Australia in 2009. See the website www.billyhughes.oph.gov.au for details of the Canberra exhibition.
Added 25 April 2008

Registrations are now open!

The program for Shamrock in the Bush 2008 has been released today! Those of you who have advised your contact details have been emailed details of the program and a registration form. These forms can be found on this website on the program and registration pages.
Added 12 April 2008

Shamrock in the Bush Registrations

It is expected that the program for this year's event will be available by the end of the first week of April. The numbers of prospective attendees far exceed the places available.To avoid disappointment please ensure that you fully complete your registration form and ensure that cheques are made payable to St Clement's Retreat and Conference Centre.
Added March 2008

Canberra launch

The Reverend Professor James Haire launched Echoes of Irish Australia: Rebellion to Republic on Saturday 9 February at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture. A broad cross section of the community attended the launch, which was accompanied by musical entertainment by Jennifer Gall and David Game.The book has received favourable reviews in the Canberra Times and the Irish Echo.
Added February 2008

Book launch

There will be a Canberra launch of our publication Echoes of Irish Australia: Rebellion to Republic by the Reverend Professor James Haire at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Barton on Saturday 9 February. If you are interested in attending please contact us for further information.
Added January 2008

Reports Completed

It has been a busy year for those involved behind the scenes with the Canberra Museum and Gallery mounting a temporary display of items from the collection for the official opening of the museum space on 14 April by Federal Member Alby Schulz.

Two assessments essential to the future of the collection were made during the year. The first undertaken by Dr Richard Reid and Cheryl Mongan was a voluntary contribution to the project in the form of the Significance Assessment of the collection, to establish the strength and uniqueness of the collection in relation to a criteria used to identify collections of national significance.

The second by Kim Morris of Art & Archival Pty Ltd and Carmela Mollica of the Conservation and Restoration Studio was a preservation survey funded by the Community Heritage Grant. Their report on the condition of the documents, textiles, paintings and objects in the collection and recommendations as to the care, storage and preservation of the wide ranging collection will be a valuable guide as work progresses.
Added November 2007

Shamrock in the Bush Official Guests

We are pleased to confirm that His Excellency Mr Máirtín Ó Fainín, Irish Ambassador to Australia has accepted our invitation to be the guest of honour at the fifteenth Shamrock in the Bush to be held from 2 to 5 August 2008. He is the fourth Irish Ambassador to support the event and it is especially pleasing that he has agreed to launch our publication Echoes of Irish Australia: Rebellion to Republic at the Shamrock Dinner in Galong House on Friday 3 August. Another guest that we look forward to welcoming to Shamrock will be our after dinner speaker Mr Craddock Morton, Director the Australian National Museum.
Added July 2007

Community Heritage Grant

Exciting times are ahead as volunteers from various backgrounds work towards establishing the museum, archive and library in Galong House. St Clement's has attracted a great deal of good will for the project. Professional historians, writers, anthropologists, curators, editors, graphic designers, speakers, musicians, dancers and many others have and will contribute their expertise and time to bring the project to fruition.

In November 2006 St Clement's were successful in gaining funding for a heritage preservation project through the Community Heritage Grant program facilitated by the National Library of Australia. The grant recognised the St Clement's collection as not only being of interest on a local level but more importantly its wider significance. The grant will fund a significance assessment and a preservation survey of the monastery's diverse collection in addition to a recent three day preservation workshop for 25 volunteers from St Clement's and various other local museums.

Kim Morris of Art & Archival Pty Ltd and Carmela Mollica of the Conservation and Restoration Studio conducted the successful and enjoyable workshop giving volunteers the opportunity to gain background information on preservation, conservation, and collection and personnel management as well as practical skills in dealing with paper and textiles.

Once the assessment and survey have been completed volunteers will have the opportunity to put their new-found skills to use as the collection is progressively re-housed and readied for exhibition.

St Clement's gratefully acknowledges the support of the Community Heritage Grant which will assist to formalise the recording, assessment and future maintenance of the collection.

Community Heritage Grants are jointly funded by the National Library of Australia, National Archives of Australia, the Department of Communications, Information, Technology and the Arts and the National Film and Sound Archive and the National Museum of Australia.

For further information on Community Heritage Grants.
Added March 2007

This page last updated: 5 October 2009