Govt seeks expressions of interest to develop National Diaspora Centre

Monday 3rd March 2014


The Government is seeking expressions of interest from potential partners to develop and operate a National Diaspora Centre.

Following a discussion at Cabinet earlier this week, Fáilte Ireland will now make a call for expressions of interest from interested parties in order to establish whether a suitable project and partner can be found.


Any party interested in acquiring The Cowley Collection - the largest existing archive on the Irish in British Construction, as the core element in their proposal should make contact with me without delay.

Full House for Joe Giltrap & myself in Luton Library Theatre last October - Pure Magic!!!

Great support once more from John Bowman, on his evocative show 'Bowman's Sunday', for my Audio Documentary. His choice of extracts over the past three weeks has been both insightful and beautifully balanced. The only 'public intellectual' in this country to demonstrate a true understanding of the issues around the 'Fifties generation of emigrants and their expungement from the national narrative. Others seem to think the subject beneath consideration...

Spirit of a Woman statue which waves goodbye to those who "took the boat" stands proud in Mayo

I was delighted to hear of this statue's existence from a Mayo man recently. The Spirit of a Woman statue was erected in memory of those times and the families who were separated. It stands in The Square looking down the main street towards the railway bridge. It is a poignant and moving testament to the many men - and women - who "took the boat". This statue is still relevant today as we see so many of our citizens emigrating in search of work.

Tune in tomorrow morning for more Voices of The Men Who Built Britain with John Bowman on RTE Radio 1 http://bit.ly/1i1un4v

In this week's show, Ultan will be accompanying the excerpts from his CD material.
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/bowman-sunday-830/

Brilliant writing from Frank McNally in his Irishman's Diary Column in last Saturday's Irish Times. I couldn't have said it nearly so well. Click here to go to the article.

30 mins. of interview excerpts played on the John Bowman Show RTE Radio 1 http://bit.ly/1i1un4v

If you missed it last Sunday morning, have a listen back at http://bit.ly/1i1un4v to excerpts from my upcoming CD of interviews with The Men Who Built Britain!