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Click for video clip of
2010 Lunch Highlights
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The highlight in our calendar is our annual St Patrick’s Day Lunch and this magnificent event has been recognised as the largest of its type in the World.
Over 1,200 guests have attended the lunch in recent years and it has provided many of our most enjoyable afternoons, evenings and nights! Notably welcoming Her Excellency Mary McAleese President of Ireland and Martin McAleese on their second visit to Australia and enjoying an opportunity not just to hear from the President but also Martin McAleese sharing easily some insights into their ‘footy’ experiences.
In 2006 we celebrated our entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for 1000 people playing the bodhran.
Since the inception of the Club we have been fortunate to have the ongoing support of the Embassy in Canberra and the Consulate General in Sydney and all their staff. Their participation at our St Patrick’s Day lunch is an important part of maintaining and building on the strong trade, tourism and heritage ties we share. In addition, official visitors in recent years have included:
In addition official visitors in recent years have included:
- Mr. Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and The Hon. Nathan Rees, MP, Premier of New South Wales (2009)
- Mr Noel Dempsey, TD, Minister for Transport and Mr Tony Burke, Minister for Argiculture, Fisheries and Forestry (2008)
- H.E. Máirtín Ó Fainín, Ambassador of Ireland to Australia The Ambassador and Ms. Reba Meagher Minister for Health (2007)
- Mr. Brian Cowen, TD, Minister for Finance and Mr. Joe Hockey Minister for Human Services (2006)
- Mr. Micheal Martin, TD, Minister for trade Enterprise and Employment and NSW Premier Mr. Bob Carr (2005)
- Mr. Tom Kitt, Minister of State at the Department of Taoiseach and Mr. John Brogden, Leader of the NSW Liberal Party (2004)
- Her Excellency Mary McAleese, President of Ireland (2003)
- Mr. Martin Cullen, TD, Minister of State Dept of Finance, Kerry Chikarovski Leader of the Liberal Party and the 407 squadron of the New York Fire Department (2002)
The amazing entertainment at the lunch is just as special. Notable performances include: Luka Bloom, Julie Anthony, Mary Coughlan, the cast from the ‘Eureka’, the cast from the ‘Kelly’s Republic’ spectacular, the cast from ‘To Dance the Moon’, the Jan Currie Irish Dancers, The Garda Band, Seamus Begley and Jim Murray, Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Lunasa, Damien Leith, Jeff Lang and so many more! And, of course, the Lansdowne Club St.Patrick’s Day Lunch just wouldn’t be the same without our resident comics Paul Martell and Brian Doyle and our special guest compare, Andrew O’Keefe.
Many members take this opportunity to share the Lansdowne Club with their corporate colleagues and we are delighted to welcome them to our very special day.
Chairman’s Award
The Chairman’s Award is presented on St Patrick’s Day to recognise the lifetime achievements of a member of the Club T he inaugural recipients of the Chairman’s Award were Gough & Margaret Whitlam (2004) since then Brian Doyle (2005), John O’Neill (2006), Adrian Pilton (2007), Breige Tuite (2008) and Billy Cantwell (2009) have joined this honour roll.
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