Jeanie Johnston backers left out in the cold
As chairman of that committee (along with officers Peter Butler, treasurer, and Peg O’Bierne, secretary), I can report that the Irish-American community in this area responded in force.
The 100 members of our committee collected over $15,000 in less than four weeks and sent the funds to New York city where the Irish-American Partnership enhancedour contribution, resulting in a total of $26,000 being sent to the Jeanie Johnston Project in Co Kerry.
Plans were formulated to celebratethe Jeanie Johnston visit to the Washington area with a gala dinner and a fireworks display. Arrangements with corporate sponsors were made for local schoolchildren to visit and learn about Ireland.
Enthusiasm was at an all-time high and then the wind was let out of our sails.
The ship was plagued by delays, the costs of finishing it became colossal, and after waiting 18 months, the tour was cancelled.
No account was given as to what happened to the committee’s money. Where is the simple accounting of funds?
For three years, the committee heard nothing. Then three weeks ago, word was received through a third party about the Jeanie Johnston’s arrival in Washington, DC.
No particularswere received from the Irish Tourist Board.
However, for two weeks, The Irish Show, a weekly radio programme presented by myself and my daughter, Kathleen Molloy, advertised free of charge that the ship was coming so that Irish and Irish-Americans in our area could make plans to visit it.
Where is the professionalism at the Irish Tourist Board?
The last insult was on May 28, when over 400 people were invited to the event honouring the Jeanie Johnston’s visit to Washington, DC. Not one member of our committee (who had already contributed $100-$1,000 each to the Jeanie Johnson Project), or one active member of any other Irish organisation, was asked to attend.
Where is common courtesy?
The Irish Tourist Board’s mission is to attract people to participate in all things Irish. were received from the Irish Tourist Board.
However, for two weeks, The Irish Show, a weekly radio programme presented by myself and my daughter, Kathleen Molloy, advertised free of charge that the ship was coming so that Irish and Irish-Americans in our area could make plans to visit it. Where is the professionalism at the Irish Tourist Board?
The last insult was on May 28, when over 400 people were invited to the event honouring the Jeanie Johnston’s visit to Washington, DC.
Not one member of our committee (who had already contributed $100-$1,000 each to the Jeanie Johnson Project), or one active member of any other Irish organisation, was asked to attend.
Where is common courtesy?
The Irish Tourist Board’s mission is to attract people to participate in all things Irish.
There was no excuse for this snub of the Irish-Americans in Washington, DC, who supported in every way the ship’s American tour. How does the Irish Tourist Board expect us to promote Ireland after this?
Pat Troy,
1330, Connecticut Avenue,
Washington, DC,
USA.
![<p>'Despite the fact that the Irish Science Teachers’ Association, the ASTI and the Irish Universities Association representatives on the NCCA Biology, Chemistry, and Physics have publicly dissociated from the flawed model [in the senior cycle curriculum plan], all of these concerns have been ignored by the Department of Education.' </p>](/cms_media/module_img/9742/4871127_9_augmentedSearch_PA-49006269_1_.jpg "<p>'Despite the fact that the Irish Science Teachers’ Association, the ASTI and the Irish Universities Association representatives on the NCCA Biology, Chemistry, and Physics have publicly dissociated from the flawed model [in the senior cycle curriculum plan], all of these concerns have been ignored by the Department of Education.' </p>")
