It ain’t over till it’s clover

A TRADITION was revived outside Town Hall on St Patrick’s Day, with a long-awaited flag raising event last week.

On Wednesday, 17 March, the Ballarat & District Irish Association gathered at Victoria Square to celebrate the flying of the Irish flag, for the first time in over ten years.

The green, white and orange colours soared gracefully in the breeze, as rousing speeches were heard around the flagpole.

Brian Shanahan, president of the Ballarat & District Irish Association, said the flag raising was a “symbolic” commemoration.

“It’s a formal recognition of the Irish and Irish Australian contributions to Ballarat and the surrounding areas,” he said.

“It’s important that we recognise Irish Australian history with events such as this.”

The Irish Association aims to increase the observation and preservation of Irish culture, by incorporating intellectual events with excitement and fun.

Also in attendance was City of Ballarat mayor Cr Daniel Moloney, who said it was a privilege to take part in the event.

“It’s probably been more than a decade since we’ve last raised the Irish flag on St Patrick’s Day, so it’s a pity that this tradition has been lost,” he said.

“It’s great to revive it again. But with a surname like Moloney, I certainly couldn’t let that one pass.”

The event coincided with the city’s Harmony Fest celebrations, which honours Ballarat’s multicultural and diverse population.

Harmony Fest runs from 12 March to 28 March and is centred around the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March.

Cr Moloney said he encourages everyone to join in on the fortnight-long festivities.

“Australia is a very diverse country, and Ballarat reflects that,” he said. “Harmony Fest is all about celebrating different cultures and identities, including Irish heritage.”