Date: Sunday 21st April, 2024

Time: 9.30am

Meeting Point: Man O’War Steps - Sydney Opera House

Transport: 
Circular Quay is accessible by most public transport options - train, bus and ferry.

Route: An oasis of 30-hectares in the heart of the city.

Wrapped around Sydney Harbour and adjacent to the Sydney Opera House, the gardens occupy one of Sydney's most spectacular positions. It is one of Sydney’s most beautiful and alluring destinations, with everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the abundant natural beauty. 

Established in 1816, it is the oldest scientific institution in the country and is home to an outstanding collection of plants from Australia and overseas.

From the provocative rare and threatened plants of the world to the romantic rose garden, the themed garden areas show the diverse beauty of nature.

Duration: Walking 1.5 hours loop track.
Accessibility: This route is predominantly flat, dogs and prams are both welcomed.

A Women's Mental Health Event

Saturday 20th April, Randwick Community Centre
9.30am-2.30pm

This event will focus on why women should, and need to prioritise their mental health. 

Featuring leading mental health practitioners and industry experts as well as community members courageously sharing their lived experience story.

Guest Speakers & Topics

• Settling in and breathwork - Lucia Ward

• Self-Love Project - Shannen O'Hara

• Shame and Grief - Georgie Igoe

• Separation, Divorce and Parenting Rights - Ruth Hennigan

• Empowerment through financial wellbeing - Amie Baker

• Fertility Challenges - Beyond the Silence - Orlaith Sheill 

• Lived experience panel - Moderated by Irish Psychologist Emer McDermott, with Tina King Garde, Caroline McSorley and Fionnuala Wylie.

 
Ticket price includes lunch and refreshments.

If you can't afford the ticket fee please email Una at project@irishsupportagency.org.au.
Don't let cost be a barrier, get in touch and we will facilitate it anonymously.

This event is proudly supported by Randwick Council and Vaughan Civil.

About our Speakers and Contributors:
 
Lucia Ward - Lucia is a trauma-informed Pilates Instructor and Breathwork Facilitator, from Derry, Ireland and currently based in Sydney. She teaches both Mat and Reformer Pilates and offers Breathwork to support client’s connection to their body and their mind.

Shannen O'Hara - Shannen is a Self Love & Mindset Coach, Breathwork facilitator, Icebath Coach and Yoga Teacher. Shannen specialises in holistic coaching, guiding individuals on a journey from self doubt to self love, nurturing within them a resounding ‘yes I can mindset’ that empowers them to embrace their full potential with true confidence.

Georgie Igoe - Relational Gestalt Therapist | Social Worker Clinical Supervisor | NSW Victim Services Counsellor | Visual Artist. Georgie is an Irish psychotherapist, artist and poet. 

Ruth Hennigan -Ruth is committed to helping families embroiled in family law disputes resolve their issues as amicably and swiftly as possible with the clear knowledge that the families whose lives we touch must co-exist long after our role has concluded.  

• Bachelor of Civil Law (University College Dublin)

• Admitted Solicitor, Supreme Court of NSW and High Court of Australia

• Member, Law Society NSW

Amie Baker -  Amie Baker is an esteemed financial adviser and renowned Money Mindset Coach, recognised for her outstanding contributions to the field of finance and empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Amie's journey is marked by resilience, determination, and a relentless passion for helping others achieve financial freedom. Amie Baker's accolades include:
• Winner of the prestigious Female Excellence in Advice Award in 2022.
• Only woman to win the IFA Excellence in Advice Award for Investment Adviser of the Year in 2023.

Órlaith Sheill - Órlaith is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Accredited Supervisor with PACFA,  with over 20 years of experience as a counsellor, clinical supervisor, group facilitator, educator and speaker. Órlaith has extensive experience in the area of grief, loss and trauma having worked at the Post Adoption Resource Centre (The Benevolent Society), in Palliative Care, as a Fertility Counsellor and as a Bereavement Counsellor at Rednose supporting those grieving sudden unexpected death in babies and children, stillbirth, pregnancy loss, termination and neonatal death. 

Join us for our monthly Irish community book club.

A book club is a lovely way to discover new books and to meet new people! The book club meets on the last Thursday of each month in The Gaelic Club, Surry Hills.

This month we are reading ‘‘The Silent Patient’’ by Alex Michaelides. The Silent Patient is a 2019 psychological thriller novel.

Next meeting will be on the Thursday 18th April at 6pm

Everyone is welcome, please sign up below.

Seniors Day Trip

The Irish Support Agency is delighted to host our Seniors Day Trip. The trip is offered free of charge to ISA Members.

This year we will be visiting beautiful Manly and North Head Quarantine Station. The first known use of North Head as a quarantine site was in August 1828 with the detaining of the convict ship Bussorah Merchant when a number of crew became infected with smallpox. The average time of quarantine at North Head was three weeks.

The station was further developed as a complex to include accommodation blocks, hospital wards and morgue, as well as an administration centre, and it remained in operation until the early 1980s. During its life 580 ships were detained at North Head and more than 13,000 people were quarantined.

Meeting Point: Irish Support Agency, 64 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills

Time: 9.20am (or 9.45am at Circular Quay, Wharf 2)

Transport:  Ferry from Circular Quay Wharf 2 to Manly at 10am

We will then take a shuttle bus from Manly Wharf to North Head Reserve and spend 45 minutes exploring the area and historic buildings. 

Lunch at Ivanhoe Hotel at 12.30pm. 

Depart Manly at 2pm; arrive Circular Quay at 2.22pm. 

Places are limited, so to reserve your space, call Una on 0412 324 396.

Date: Sunday 24th March 2024

Time: 9.30am

Meeting Point: Balmain East Wharf

Transport: 
Bus number 442 regularly departs from the QVB. 
Ferries regularly depart from Circular Quay, Wharf 5 or 6
Most of the parking is restricted to 30 minutes or 2 hours. Find a park near Balmain Bowling Club for free all-day parking.

Route: Navigate through the backstreets until you hit the water. The walk does not hug the foreshore for the entire distance, and consists of a mix of waterfronts and backstreets lined with 19th Century sandstone cottages and Victorian townhouses. This walk has it all; stunning views of the city, heritage buildings, and a beautiful swimming opportunity at Dawn Fraser Baths. 

Please note, there is a $6.60 fee for adults to swim at Dawn Fraser Baths, Senior Card Holder / Full-time Student - $3.50.

Duration: Walking 2-3 hours loop track, walk will complete at Balmain.
Accessibility: This route is predominantly flat however this is a heritage suburb and there will be some steps to climb. 
Dogs are welcome.  

Join us for our monthly Irish community book club.

A book club is a lovely way to discover new books and to meet new people! The book club meets on the last Thursday of each month in The Gaelic Club, Surry Hills.

This month we are reading ‘‘Khaki Town’’ by Judy Nunn. The No.1 bestseller is a breathtaking historical novel set in Queensland during World War II.

Next meeting will be on the 3rd Thursday due to Easter Break- Thursday 21st March at 6pm

Everyone is welcome, please sign up below.

Suicide Prevention Workshop

Sunday 10th March, 10am-1pm, The Gaelic Club, Surry Hills

We can never underestimate the impact that every life lost to suicide has on family, friends, workplaces and the broader community.

1 in 2 young people are impacted by suicide by the time they turn 25.

This 3-hour training provided by educAid Au and in partnership with @LivingWorks Australia , teaches and empowers individuals (aged 15 and above) to:

• Challenge community attitudes that prevent open talk about suicide in a culturally safe setting.

• Identify when a person is having thoughts of suicide.

• Confidently engage this person in direct and open talk about suicide.

• Connect them with safety connections in your community who can complete a suicide safety plan.

The ISA in association with Sydney Community Safe Space Inc , is delighted to offer this training to all members of the Irish Australian community free of charge.

This course is NESA accredited for teachers and CPD hours with the Australian Counselling Association and the Australian Psychological Society.

Registrations are essential.

Join us for our monthly Irish community book club.

A book club is a lovely way to discover new books and to meet new people! The book club meets on the last Thursday of each month in The Gaelic Club, Surry Hills.

This month we are reading ‘‘Monkey Grip’’ by Helen Garner.

Everyone is welcome, please sign up below.

Date: Sunday 18th February 2024

Time: 9.30am

Meeting Point: Centennial Homestead

Transport: Ample parking available in Centennial Park. 
Public transport regularly departs from the CBD and Eastern Suburbs. 
Moore Park Light Rail Station is a 10 minute walk. 

Route:  Covering 189 hectares, Centennial Park features historic buildings, formal gardens, ponds, grand avenues and statues.  The Grand Drive circuit is 3.6 kilometres, and is relatively flat. We will then walk via Queens Park towards Bronte, where we will hopefully have a quick dip in the ocean pool. 

Duration: Walking 2-3 hours

Michael Lyons is a well known member of the Sydney Irish Community and also one of the early founding members of the ISA (or IAWB as it was then).   For many years he was the presenter on the 2SER radio programme Sydney Irish Radio.   A successful businessman and participant on many committees, Michael is also a JP, pastoral care worker and a member of the United Irish Ex Services group.

Michael has been in ill health for the past year or so and one of the things he  mentioned was that he'd love to have a get together of people in the community so a group of people headed by Chris Cunningham have come together to organise an "Irish afternoon". It's a daytime event event including afternoon tea, with some music and recognition of Michael. 

Women's Health Matters is a female focused informational event which aims to shine a light on the common health issues encountered by women of all ages.

Women’s health really does matter. So why is it so often overlooked?
This event aims to build awareness around women’s health conditions and bring them to the forefront of discussion. We believe it should be common practice to speak about women’s health conditions. Women should be empowered to take control over their own health, and that they don’t have to accept their symptoms. 

We will be joined by expert panellists including McGrath Metastatic Breast Care Clinical Nurse Consultant, Specialist Fertility Doctor and Nurse Practitioner. Topics covered include:
 ✓Breast Checks
 ✓Smear Tests
 ✓Fertility Issues
 ✓Age related health checks
 ✓Advocating for your health

Come along to join like minded women learn more about their bodies, how we can advocate for our health and get to the bottom of what might be going on. 

Ticket price includes light refreshments. 

Date: Sunday 28th January 2024

Time: 9am

Meeting Point: Circular Quay, Wharf 5

Accessibility: This route is flat, however, Cockatoo Island is a former industrial site with cliffs and steep drops as well as occasional unmarked and uneven surfaces, voids and trip hazards. To ensure you enjoy your visit, please mind your step, wear appropriate footwear, stay alert for the presence of vehicles and construction activity, and keep a close watch on any children with you. The lower island is generally suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Owing to the island’s industrial heritage, however, there are uneven surfaces as well as some buildings not accessible by wheelchair.  

Unfortunately dogs are not allowed.   

Route:  Just is a short ferry ride from the city centre, this is a great day out exploring what was once one of Australia's biggest shipyards and is now part museum part cultural centre.

A major drawcard is the UNESCO World Heritage listed Convict Site, which provides a window into the era when Cockatoo Island was a convict gaol (1839-69). Remnant structures from the island’s penal establishment (1839–1869) offer a window into a period when people were exiled to Australia and put to work on the colony’s building projects.

Duration: Walking 1.5 hours

Join us for our monthly Irish community book club.

A book club is a lovely way to discover new books and to meet new people! The book club meets on the last Thursday of each month in The Gaelic Club, Surry Hills.

This month we are reading ‘‘The Spy who came in from the Cold’’ by John le Carré.

Everyone is welcome, please sign up below.

Traditionally, in Ireland, January 6th is a special day known as Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) when women are celebrated for their tireless efforts across the festive season.

In the modern day, the tradition is celebrated by acknowledging the role and accomplishments of women in our society.

With that in mind, The Prankqueans, an ensemble of artists inspired by ancient Celtic mythology to celebrate all things female and Irish Australian, are hosting an Open Mic Night at the Gaelic Club, Surry Hills from 6.30pm.

Bring your musical instrument, poem, song or party piece, the Prankqueans want to hear from you and to showcase the incredible talent of Irish mná in Sydney. This promises to be an excellent evening of entertainment and connection so please come along.

Ticket entry is by donation to the ISA only, but please register in advance.

This year we are hosting our fabulous Christmas lunch in Penrith Gaels Club, Kingswood at 12 pm on Wednesday 13th December 2023.

A beautiful Christmas-themed lunch awaits as well as our raffle.

Cost: $10 per person for members/$15 for non-members

Should you wish to become a member of the Irish Support Agency for only $11, you will be eligible for the reduced rate on both lunches in the year.

Bookings essential.

Iconic Sydney walk - coogee to bondi

Date: Sunday 3rd December

Time: 9.30am

Meeting Point: Front of Coogee Pavillion, 169 Dolphin St, Coogee NSW 2034

Parking Available

Accessibility:  Grade 2 track. Suitable for most ages and fitness levels with occasional steep sections of stairs. Not suitable for prams or wheelchair users. Dogs allowed on leads. Drinking fountains available at all beaches.

Transport: Buses 374 departs regularly from Central Station. 

Route:  

A cliff top coastal walk, the Bondi to Coogee walk extends for six km in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. The walk features stunning views, beaches, parks, cliffs, bays and rock pools. The beaches and parks offer a place to rest, swim or a chance to eat at one of the cafes. 
You’ll hike along the coast with minimal tree cover, so do bring sunscreen as you will be exposed to the elements throughout your walk.

Duration: 6km one way - 3 hours

Join us for our monthly Irish community book club.

A book club is a lovely way to discover new books and to meet new people! The book club meets on the last Thursday of each month in The Gaelic Club, Surry Hills.

This month we are reading ‘‘Still Life’’ by Sarah Winman.

Everyone is welcome, please sign up below.

Join the Irish Support Agency and Arrive Australia's John McQuaid as we explore your most common visa and immigration queries. John will give an overview on the most pressing topics he sees every day in his migration agency but there will also be ample opportunity to ask your own questions about your individual circumstances.

Learn about

• New visa options following a first/second Working Holiday Visa -planning ahead

• 408 Covid stream visas – latest updates

• Skilled employer sponsored temporary visas - the pros and cons .

• Permanent residence skilled visas -how to prepare to apply

• Joining your partners visa / sponsorship by a partner -what is required

• Australian citizenship -when will you be eligible

Please let us know if there is a particular area/issue that you would like to be covered in this information session.

This is an in person event.

A fundraising trivia night in aid of the Irish Support Agency

Join us at the Grand Hotel on Wednesday 22nd November at 7pm for a traditional tráth na gceist.

This will be a trivia night filled with questions, music rounds, pictures and amazing prizes to be won.

Tickets available for individuals and tables of 4 and 6. To ensure you get a spot, please pre-book, we cannot guarantee tickets at the door on the night.

All of the funds raised will go towards the Irish Support Agency’s client support services.

Unresolved trauma can cast a long shadow over our lives, leaving a profound and enduring impact on our emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. The wounds of the past can manifest in various ways, from persistent anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem to difficulties in forming and maintaining healthy relationships. These unresolved experiences may influence our coping mechanisms, leading to maladaptive behaviours such as substance abuse or self-destructive patterns. Additionally, trauma can affect our ability to trust and connect with others, hindering our capacity for intimacy and often perpetuating a cycle of isolation.

For this episode, we will be joined by psychotherapist Helen O’Byrne, who has a practice in Neutral Bay and works with clients from many backgrounds and walks of life,. Helen has a deep understanding how unresolved trauma can cast a long shadow over our lives.

Helen will help us to understand what trauma actually looks like and what we can begin to do in our adult lives to address this and start to move forward. A very important episode, please tune in.

Celebration of the Irish pagan festival of the dead, through mythology, music, poetry and spoken word featuring Irish & Australian artistes.

Samhain 23 - a soirée with The Prankqueans and special guest artist, David Yardley - celebrates the Irish origins of Samhain through storytelling, music, poetry and song. There will also be an opportunity for guests to reflect on those from the Irish Australian community that we have lost this year, especially our very own dear Gabrielle Carey.

The Prankqueans are an ensemble of Irish-Australian artists including Áine de Paor, Anne Casey, Cliona Molins, Jacqueline McPhee, Julie McFarland and Rosie McDonald.

Tickets are $25 each and include a glass of wine on arrival.

Balls Head reserve to lavender Bay

Date: Sunday 12th November

Time: 9.30am

Meeting Point: Waverton Train Station

Accessibility: This route is flat in parts however it is not suitable for prams as there is uneven terrain. Dogs are welcome but must be on a lead.

Transport:  

Trains run regularly from Central to Waverton Station on the North Shore Line.

Route:  
This is a lovely walk taking you along the quiet Berry's Bay and on to Balls Head, this route is located on what feels like the middle of Sydney Harbour, which it very much is. Expect amazing scenic views of Goat Island, Balmain, the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as an interesting peak in to old ships that line the old Coal Loader platform.

Along the way you’ll experience bushland, a secret garden which makes you feel like you’re a million miles away from the city and even an ancient aboriginal carving. 

The trail starts in an area that has been radically transformed from a coal and oil industrial site to a regenerated inner city garden space, blending some of Sydney’s history with the modern urban development. 

Duration: 3 hours

Length: 7.1km

The Irish Support Agency invites you, your family, and friends to join us for our Annual Mass of Remembrance when we call to mind our loved ones who have passed away. At our annual Mass, we gather in a special way to commemorate the deceased members of the Irish and Irish Australian communities.

The death of someone you love is always traumatic. Their passing leaves a void in your life and home. We turn to family and friends to console us in our grieving.

As a community, we will gather to support each other and turn to God in prayer for our deceased loved ones at our Annual Remembrance Mass.

If you have lost someone throughout the last year and would like their name mentioned during the Mass, please contact us at admin@irishsupportagency.org.au before Friday 10th November 2023 including the name of the deceased.

Shoulder to Shoulder

Sunday 5th November 2023, 10am
Prince Henry Centre, Little Bay NSW

The ISA Health & Wellbeing group invite you to our annual Shoulder to Shoulder event for the Irish Australian Male Community and their friends. After the huge success and incredible feedback that we received from our events in 2022, we are back with more unbelievable and thought-provoking stories from men in our community.

Speakers and Contributors:

• Ronan MacDomhnaill - Founder of Cred

• Mick Boyle - Founder and Executive Chairman of Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure

• John Milham - Mentoring Men Advocate and Training Consultant

• Shane Brennan - Try Soft Breathwork and Meditation

• Jack Costello, Steven Daniels, Colm Phibbs, Kieran McLoughlin, Cathal Fahy

  Ticket cost includes lunch and refreshments.
  

If you can't afford the ticket fee please email Una at project@irishsupportagency.org.au. 

Don't let cost be a barrier, get in touch and we will facilitate it anonymously. 

This event is proudly supported by Randwick Council. 

Join us for our monthly Irish community book club.

A book club is a lovely way to discover new books and to meet new people! The book club meets on the last Thursday of each month in The Gaelic Club, Surry Hills.

This month we are reading ‘‘Apeirogon’’ by Neil Colum McCann.

Everyone is welcome, please sign up below.

Cooks River

Date: Sunday 8th October

Time: 9.30am

Meeting Point: Canterbury Train Station, 9.30am

Accessibility: Flat walk, pram friendly, dog friendly      

Transport:  

Trains run regularly from Central to Canterbury Station.

Route:  
The Cooks River Pathway, is one of the oldest and most significant shared pedestrian and cycling paths in Sydney. The Pathway is centrally located in the Sydney metropolitan region, and follows the foreshore of the Cooks River, covering the full length of the catchment.  

Duration: 2 -3 hours

Length: 8km loop trail

Join us for our monthly Irish community book club.

A book club is a lovely way to discover new books and to meet new people! The book club meets on the last Thursday of each month in The Gaelic Club, Surry Hills.

This month we are reading ‘‘The Graveyard Book’’ by Neil Gaiman.

Everyone is welcome, please sign up below.