THE Australian Ambassador to Ireland His Excellency Mr Gary Gray will visit Ennis this week, giving a talk on Tuesday, October 11 at the Old Ground Hotel.

The event, organised by the Clare Labour Party, will be held at 7.30pm in the Ennis hotel. The special guest is an experienced Australian Labour Party member having served in the Bob Hawke and Paul Keating Governments, going on to become a minister. He also worked in the energy sector in Western Australia.

Denis Vaughan, chair of the Clare Labour Party says all are welcome to attend this Tuesday’s talk.

“In 1985 it was calculated that a third of all Australians were of Irish extraction and coincided with the first Irish state visit to Australia by President Paddy Hillery. This met with widespread acclaim including front page coverage in all the major newspapers and TV coverage.

“Australia and Ireland have many cultural and sporting links. You only have to mention Ned Kelly and the many Irish people playing Australian Rules football in Australia. Not forgetting the Clare hurling star Peter Duggan recently spent two years in Melbourne.

“Most Irish musical acts regularly tour Australia. Let us not forget the use of Irish county and town names Down Under including Vinegar Hill in New South Wales and Clare Valley in South Australia.

“Immigration is a constant question for centuries to and forth. But more recent theirs been a brain drain of Irish doctors and medics to Australia so, there is lots to discuss. All are welcome and  give his Excellency Mr Gary Gray a warm Clare welcome when he speaks at the Old Ground Hotel.”