2023 is a very important year for the Queensland Irish Association, as it marks the 125th Anniversary of its founding on 23 March 1898.
To celebrate, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane held a Civic Reception to mark the 125th Anniversary, which was held at the Brisbane City Hall on Friday 3 March 2023.
At the Civic Reception, there launched “A Hundred Thousand Welcomes: a History of the Queensland Irish Association”, authored by distinguished historians, Rodney Sullivan and Robin Sullivan.
The book is published by Boolarong Press and was jointly launched by His Excellency, the Ambassador of Ireland, Tim Mawe, and by former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Sallyanne Atkinson.
The QIA will once again hold the Saint Patrick’s Eve Dinner this year, as it has done in almost every year since its foundation in 1898. The Saint Patrick’s Eve Dinner will be held at the Pullman Hotel, King George Square, on Thursday 16 March 2023. The QIA will welcome the Premier of Queensland, the Ambassador of Ireland, and other distinguished guests, to this celebration for the Feast Day of Saint Patrick .
We will be represented at the Saint Patrick’s Day Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen.
The QIA will stage the Saint Patrick’s Day Gathering on Friday 17 March 2023 at West’s Rugby Club, Sylvan Road,Toowong at 12 noon, with the highlight being some Irish favourites from Tom Kimmet, together with an enthusiastic sing-a-long.
The Film Evening for the Launch of the Brisbane Irish Festival has the full support of the Queensland Irish Association.
I congratulate the Committee of the Brisbane Irish Festival on organising an outstanding series of events (including of course the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on March 11 2023), that celebrates in an exhilarating way, everything Irish.
Jeff Spender
President of the Queensland Irish Association