Not Just Ned: Irish in Australia series

Symposium chaired by Orla Tunney, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Ireland, with short contributions from other speakers giving their opinions on the Not Just Ned exhibition.

Shane Carmody begins by singing lyrics about Ned Kelly written to the The Patriot Game that he wrote for the centenary of the Ned Kelly’s execution in which he drew a connection between that event, Armistice Day, and the dismissal of the Whitlam government.

Pat Cooke discusses the history and evolution of the National Museum of Ireland in the context of the material culture of Ireland in modern times.

Eric Richards examines the reciprocal relationship between Ireland and the Australian colonies and examines questions such as what characteristics and qualities did Irish immigrants embody, and how selectively did the colonies draw on these immigrants.

Richard Reid, senior curator of the Not Just Ned exhibition, tells some stories and presents a few of his favourite objects from the exhibition to open the 18th Australasian Irish Studies conference: The Irish in Australia 1788 to the present.

In the genealogical rush to return to Ireland and where our ancestors were from, records of their lives in Australia were sometimes overlooked. Perry McIntyre outlines key documents which provide clues to finding ancestral spots in Ireland.

Brad Argent outlines what’s on the Ancestry.com.au website and how to get the best out of it, and other free online databases that could enhance your family history research without breaking the bank.

Author Tom Keneally officially launches the National Museum’s new exhibition about the Irish contribution to Australia. Includes a performance by the Alan Kelly Quartet and speeches by the Federal Arts Minister and new Irish children’s minister.