In Recognition for Contributions to Irish Culture in Korea…

On Thursday night I was invited over to the Embassy of Ireland in Seoul for a special event. It had been a while since I’d been there, having been in on occasion helping promote Irish Association of Korea events, and for other reasons. I brought the family with me this time, and remembered to take a shave and a shower beforehand. The visit was worth the effort.

Myself and five other individuals were to be awarded for our contributions to the promotion of Irish culture in Korea. While I was undoubtedly the shortest tenured recipient of the award, the company I kept held no qualms about my presence at the ceremony.

With ambassador O’Donoghue and IAK chair, Shauna Browne

Among those were Tom Coyner, who chaired the organisation for seven years and has his share of stories from over the years, Byung Guen Chun, a Korean gentleman who was encouraged into participating over ten years ago and is still an enthusiastic member, Sean Conneely, a Irish Columban missionary who has made Korea his home for over forty if not fifty years, and the daughter of Mr Lee (that’s what we’ve always called him, and I can’t find his business card to use his proper name, so sorry…) who is the owner of the Dublin bars in Gangnam and was unable to attend. Bernard Hughes, another long term Irish expat and contributor to the IAK, was unable to attend also.

It was a very simple ceremony. The Irish ambassador to Korea Aingeal O’Donoghue and IAK Chair Shauna Browne handed out the awards, after each of which a few words of praise were lauded and then the obligatory photographs, all washed down with a bottle or two of champagne. It was a nice but short opportunity to catch up with some old friends, some of whom I am likely not to see again for some time.

Award recipients and ambassador O’Donoghue and IAK chair Shauna Browne

I can’t really emphasise how much this award means to me. While there’s the obvious recognition that is attached to the commendation, that it comes from my peers in both the IAK and the embassy is an indication that the work individual contributions we, and by we I mean all those who have gone before me, have done over the year building up the Irish Association of Korea to the organisation it is today has not gone ignored.

The past year has seen a few notable departures in the committee but I think that this change allows for new faces to step up and embrace the challenges I feel are worth the effort. I couldn’t have imagined myself organising as many St. Patrick’s Day festivals as I did when I first came to Korea, and in the end look where I ended up just before I leave the country over nine years later.

My new paperweight 😉

This is a perfect indicator of how important it is to take every opportunity that you stumble upon, embellish it, nurture it if it’s worth it, and then let it grow with you. And while I know I travelled half way around the world to do this, it’s not necessary for everyone. You just need to be able to make the opportunity yourself, but I’m not going to tell you what those opportunities are. That’s the part that’s up to you.

Now I just need to find something to fill my time over the next five years. Maybe they could use me in Dublin…

 

For more information on the Irish Association of Korea and how you can get involved (I recommend it!) visit www.iak.co.kr

You can see more photographs from this small event here 🙂

Knees Up in Sindorim! Seoul Céilí, August 8

You’ll have to excuse this break from regular broadcasting as I’d like to plug an event I’m involved in organising.

For any of you in Seoul, or indeed South Korea over the next few weeks and you’re in need of a good knees up, the Irish Association of Korea will be having their annual Céilí on Sunday, September 8 in Sindorim.

Seoul Céilí: Irish Music and Dance Festival September 8, 2013.

The location is the same as is used for previous events, including the 2011 and 2012 Céilí, and of course the two previous St Patrick’s Day festivals. The event is free to enter, and everyone is invited to get up and try some of the dances out, which are very easy going with not so difficult steps. If you’re thinking Riverdance, think again. While there will be some displays of the high kicking and fast tempo dancing which the Broadway best-seller have popularised, céilí dancing is a much more laid back and social occasion.

As well as dancing there’ll be live Irish music, and some face painting and balloons. While it has been a very hot and humid summer, the temperature will have drop to a more reasonable heat in September, and we may even been lucky enough to have a light breeze (but no promises).

The Céilí will take place in the D-Cube Plaza, which is at Sindorim Station on the blue (line 1) and green (line 2) subway lines. Just come out exit 1 and you won’t miss us!

Here are few of my own photos from last years event in the same spot (although for some reason none of the actual dancing!)

Hope to see you all there!

Saint Patrick’s Day Festival in Seoul, 2012.

I thought I’d share some pictures with you from the festival which took place last Saturday. This was the 12th year Saint Patrick’s Day has been celebrated by the Irish Association of Korea, and the second year in a row that we didn’t have a parade. This didn’t detract from the festivities, and our venue, the D Cube Center in Sindorim, was perfect as the auditorium like design kept everyone tightly packed in together and allowed for a wonderful festive atmosphere that people could sit back and enjoy.

I’m going to throw up a few photos for you here and I hope you can enjoy them. For more photos and details about the Irish Association of Korea, visit our website.

 

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Paddy’s Day in Seoul – March 17, 2012

It’s almost Paddy’s Day again. You won’t find a review of the day here, if anything you’ll get a promise never to do it every again! It could

When I’m not awaiting fame to find me I’m usually dig holes I can’t get out of. One of these holes is being chairman of the Irish Association of Korea (IAK). Our biggest event of the year is always Saint Patrick’s Day! We’ve had a few fine days over the years, and this year we are hoping on another memorable occasion. Our blood pressure has been nicely primed to burst over the past few months getting ready for the day, so do me a favour come along and have a good day out – bring the kids, the adults, or both – there’s plenty for everyone!

Click on this ould poster and it’ll take ye straight to the IAK’s website with full details of the event, plus plenty of other delicious Irish in Korea linkology!

Letter from Korea, November 2011

Suwon, Korea
22/11/2011

Dear Ireland,

A few months ago I was elected as the new Chairman of the Irish Association of Korea. I suppose I had it coming to me. So, what about it?

The Irish Association of Korea has been around for over ten years and primarily seeks to promote Ireland and Irishness in Korea. We do have a few other mandates, such as fundraising for a memorial to honour the Irish who died in the Korean War, but essentially we try our best to promote Ireland as a country rich in culture which is distinct from the many other countries busy promoting their cultural identity in Korea.