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Need for greater recognition

Next month many centres in Canada celebrate Ireland's national holiday, March 17, with festivities of various kinds, ranging from street parades to cultural activities, historical commemorations, readings, drama presentations, dances, and a reliving of family stories in homes across the nation.

There will be church celebrations, and a general feeling of good will both inside and outside Irish communities who look upon the day as a welcome break in the long Canadian winter season. Naturally there will be gatherings of friends in pubs, and a good deal of craic (conversation). Fortunately, the days when pubs sold artificially coloured green beer have passed. The "faith and begorrah" fakery has had its day.

Celtic music, celtic dance, celtic singers, celtic art, have long since received their due recognition. Authentic Irish handcrafts, in metal, wood, and ceramics are valued commodities. Tweeds, linens, glassware enjoy an enviable reputation for quality.

Over and above all these, Canada has received something much more precious from Ireland, its emigrants. Some contributed brawn, some bravery, some brains. They appreciated the opportunities which Canada offered. Irish names are to be found in all fields of endeavour in the building of Canada as a nation.

Not all the emigrants were saints. A few were downright scallywags. But the vast majority became staunch Canadians, ever conscious of their good fortune in finding freedom to become the very best they could, and thankful that their children, and their children's children, had the freedom to achieve an even better future than they themselves could ever imagine.

There is a need for greater recognition of the historic and continuing linkage between our two countries.

It should be the duty of our leaders to strengthen the ties between our two countries by more frequent contacts. The month of March would be an ideal time for an exchange of visits every two years.

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