A flag worth flying, but few know from where!

Last weekend, Waterford City hosted the annual 1848 Tricolour Celebration. A weekend event which commemorates the first ever raising of the Irish Flag, by Thomas Francis Meagher, at 33 The Mall. The actual date that TF Meagher raised the tricolour was the 7^th March 1848.

Meagher had a colourful history which is well documented in our Bishop’s Palace museum. He was born in what is now the Granville Hotel, educated in England, sent to Tasmania by the “Empire”, fought on the winning side in the American Civil War and is attributed with “Founding” the 69^th Brigade, a Pallbearer at Lincoln’s funeral, involved in politics in Montana. He mysteriously disappeared after “Falling off” a steamboat into the Missouri River and his body was never recovered.

It is these International connections, which the 1848 Celebrations have worked so diligently to maintain over the past number of years.

Annually, we see representatives from the US, Canadian, French and Australian Embassies attending the event. Significant numbers of US soldiers, from the 69^th Infantry Division New York, who come to Waterford City, to celebrate their Waterford and Irish connections. This year eleven US military personnel, including the commanding officer Lt Col Don Makay, came to Waterford City to acknowledge the TF Meagher connection with today’s modern military machine - the US Defence Forces. Thirteen guests came all the way from Montana, bringing a traditional folk band called The Montana Shamrockers, who played at packed venues around the City. Four guests came from Massachusetts, three from Rochester and one travelled all the way from Tasmania! 

This “International Brigade”, really does hold Mr Thomas Francis Meagher in very highest esteem. I would go so far as to say, that many revere this Waterford born native, who went on to do so much for these countries he adopted as his own. He was after all, prepared to give his life to the Union, under the leadership of Lincoln.

There can be no mistaking that Meagher has placed an indelible mark on Irish history. Whilst many others may claim to have first flown the tricolour, the simple fact is that the “Green, White and Orange” was conceived, created and designed by Meagher in Waterford. Obviously, there are French influences from the “Vive la revolution”.

33 The Mall

Little did Meagher know, that the flag he hoisted at 33 The Mall, would become such a recognisable symbol of all things Irish. Next week we will see just how wide that sphere of influence reaches, as all around the globe, the world will be turned green for St. Patrick’s Day. Incidentally, another event whose origins can be traced directly back to a Waterford man, Franciscan friar Luke Wadding.

Meagher went on to raise his new Irish flag in Dublin, in April 1848. This is commemorated by a rather unkempt plaque, on a hidden wall, in Abbey Street, next to the National Lottery HQ!

The Irish tricolour which epitomises Ireland and all that is good about this wee island, on the far western fringes of Europe, is “Born of Waterford”. Yet for some reason, we do not seem to be able to capitalise on our historic ties to the very flag, so proudly waved around the world, on the 17^th March each year.

The value of Waterford’s connection to Meagher and the Irish Tricolour, could be seen last weekend, by the large numbers of international visitors to the City. We have a real opportunity to build excellent international relationships with some not insignificant G7 counties. Yet, time and time again we appear not to be able to foster an Entente Cordiale with organisations and groups that have literally shown Waterford an open door.

Abbey Street plaque.

This event, around the first weekend of March, should be a state event. With so much pomp and ceremony, that our Taoiseach and or President attend on an annual basis. If a son of Dublin could lay claim to the flag, guaranteed there would be national, if not international, celebrations.

Waterford must build on connections from our past, if we are to build a future. Maybe next year this will start with our own citizens supporting this event!

Thanks to photographer Noel Browne for the re-enactment picture.

St. Patrick’s Day – Made of Waterford!

Spraoi, Waterford City, St.Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day is often seen, in many circles, as the start of the tourism season. After all this is the first big event after the traditional celebrations of Christmas and New Year.

Certainly in my past life, at Waterford Castle, this day would be seen by champions of the mashie niblick as a date when you could look forward to better golfing weather and the promise of lots of course work, with much hollow tining, to make the greens as smooth and velvety as the proverbial baize on a billiard table. This by all accounts is the Holy Grail for many a good and bad golfer, as you “drive for show and putt for dough”, when chasing that infuriating wee white ball around the 18-holes of a golf course. It is the greens that spoil a scorecard and never the actual golfer. Like the modern day formula one driver, all golfers have a myriad of readymade excuses that tell the story of a bad round of golf.

Luke Wadding

When I first arrived in Waterford City I was not sure what to expect from my first parade in March 2001. But I was pleasantly surprised and I believe that I have attended nearly every parade since that date, missing 2014 to march in New York with the 69^th Infantry Division. I even used to get invited to sit in the posh seats, but hey-ho times have changed and I now happily stand with the madding crowds waving my tricolour and rather proudly wearing a sprig of Shamrock.

Surprise, Surprise, no not a reference to that hideous programme, I did plant last year’s Shamrock in a pot and despite having not a scintilla of green in my fingers the sprig has miraculously survived for twelve months and we will be wearing our own home-grown Shamrock this year at the parade.

My interest in all things relating to St. Patrick’s Day grew when I would later discover, probably around 2002 or 2003, a small statue of a certain Mr Luke Wadding, an Irish Franciscan Friar, outside a rather derelict old religious building in Greyfriars. On closer inspection of the statue we can read that Luke was quite literally responsible for putting St. Patrick’s Day on the religious calendar, after apparently lobbying Pope Charles I, and therefore it is he who is responsible for the celebrations we see around the world on 17^th March.

A green Sphinx!

Such is the global phenomenon that is St. Patrick’s Day all manner of “wonders of the world” are now turning green every 17^th March – Edinburgh Castle, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, One World Trade Centre, Christ the Redeemer, the Colosseum, the Sphinx and even Nelson’s Column have all succumbed to the charm of the Irish and been bathed in a green hue to honour St. Patrick’s Day.

I do however wonder if yet again Waterford is missing a trick and an opportunity here!

As we all should know the Irish Tricolour was flown for the first time on 33 The Mall by Thomas Francis Meagher, a Waterford born native, and we can also lay claim to “inventing” St. Patrick’s Day, albeit as a religious day and not the parade day we celebrate now, but invent this day a Waterford born native did.

So, two “things” that speak of the essence of Irishness, recognised and identified around the world as being integral to one’s Irish roots have a direct connection to Waterford City. Yet we are still better known for glass and crystal and not these two iconic images that tens of millions of people hold dear to their hearts on 17^th March every year.

Edinburgh's magnificent Castle

Surely, we have an unbelievable opportunity to put Waterford at the very heart of all these celebrations of Irishness and it is a prospect not to be missed.

As I have said many times before we just need to be a wee bit more imaginative and creative in how we promote this ancient City that has shaped modern day Ireland.

Nobody does it better!

Richard Kiel from The Spy Who Loved Me.

Last weekend Waterford City hosted the sixth annual 1848 Tricolour Celebration event and I am very proud that as one of the hard working voluntary Committee members I have taken the opportunity to write, this week, about the huge effort, commitment and sacrifice given to this event by a relatively small Committee of nine and a half good men and women of Waterford (well Scotland for me if the truth be told!).

Over the last twelve months this group have been working tirelessly away in the meeting rooms of The Granville Hotel, to deliver not only the annual gala dinner, historic talks, schools programme and Flag Raising ceremony but the programme was expanded this year to acknowledge the very important 1916 Commemoration in a way that will NOT be replicated anywhere else in Ireland during this year.

This committed band of brothers and sisters produced a weekend's worth of events that could have graced any national event calendar and in recognition of the magnitude of the professionalism of the events delivered our Waterford City held centre stage with our national broadcaster on Saturday evening on both of the main news bulletins. It is these small wins and PR opportunities that are firing a warning shot across the bows of others cities that Waterford is not prepared to lie down and accept the occasional crumbs from the top table that are so often fed to us every now and again.

Great picture from Noel Browne.

Quite simply we want a bigger slice of the cake!

A summary of last weekend shows just what a significant programme this committee delivered. On Friday 4^th March 100 people, from 50 different nationalities, were naturalised as Irish Citizens, in City Hall, opposite the very spot where TF Meagher raised the first ever Irish Tricolour flag on 7^th March 1848.

On an unusually sunny afternoon, on Saturday 5^th March, 2,500 people watched as over 90 re-enactors staged the Easter Rising battle for the GPO, on The Mall, outside the Bishop’s Palace. This 40 minute historic re-enactment included forces from both side of the conflict and a period British armoured car with a Vickers and a Lewis machine gun. Whilst this event captured the public’s imagination the ticketed gala dinner that followed was really the corporate flag waving event that delivered the goods for Waterford City.

Over one hundred and fifty people attended the sell out gala dinner in The Granville Hotel. This event was attended by Mayor John Cummins, Ambassadors from the United States and Canadian Embassies, representatives from Government, members of the 69^th Infantry Division in New York, American film production companies, and 45 guests from the Twin Cities of Minnesota to name but a few. Keynote speakers were Vice Admiral Mark Mellett and Lt Col Sean M Flynn Commander of the 69^th Infantry Division New York, with musical accompaniment by the Island of Ireland Peace Choir and the Hounds of Fin.

The gala dinner was one of the best attended and certainly one of, if not the most positive, corporate events I have experienced in my time here in Waterford City. The City was sold to our guests in a glowing light and I am sure that no other City or committee could have put on such a noteworthy event.

Another action shot from Noel Browne.

On Sunday 6^th March the weekend’s events were wrapped up with the Flag Raising Ceremony on The Mall. Again this event was attended by a significant number of dignitaries and representative counties and despite some cold and damp weather, around 1200 people watched the proceedings and listened intently to the speeches. This event was supported in great numbers by local bands, the Civil Defence and of course the Waterford Naval Reserve providing all the pomp and ceremony which befitted such a symbolic event.

So Waterford City take a bow.

To the voluntary committee of Ann, Eddie, Paul, Janet, Mags, Jonathan, James, Cian and John you ALL played a blinder – roll on 2017!