Failte; We welcome to our association Mrs L Straw and we welcome 
back to the Hibernian fold Mrs Mary Bogorra, mother of the concert 
pianist Manuel Bogorro: here it may be opportune to remind our 
readers that their non Irish friends are very welcome to join us as 
associate members. An especial welcome would be extended to those 
from the kindred Society which has sadly folded so you don't have 
to be Irish to "come into the parlour". Another reminder; your 
annual subscriptions!!

What have we been up to?
Well, it's long long ago now but for record purposes I must mention
that there was a Children's Christmas Party which was hosted by 
the then Mashonaland Irish Association "MIA" President, Padraig 
Connolly and Helen, his Bean Fein.  There were fewer children than
the previous year but nevertheless there were no cokes, sweets, 
cakes or ice creams left over.  In the evening when the Mums had 
corralled the children, the lads and some ladies adjourned to the 
warmth of the bar where the usualhooley ensued.

At Borrowdale on the 12th of March 1993 the special and very good 
relations that exist between the MIA and the Mashonaland Turf Club 
worked to the advantage of members of our Committee.  They were 
guests of the M.T.C. President for "Irish" Day.  They were treated 
to a sumptuous lunch and moved among the kings and queens (female) 
of the racing world, while I, down among the povo, bought a sausage 
roll for herself and a hamburger for little me, then proceeded 
to add to my chalk up of game little losers.

St. Patrick's Day Golf was held at Wingate Golf Club on the Saint's 
own name day, the 17th of March.  There was a field of 140 players,
all of whom finished, to the wonder and amazement of some Wingatians 
who early in the day were whispering "Watch the Paddies bugger up 
this 'lot'", that field will never be completed".  To their credit, 
the very same people, were the first to acknowledge later in the day, 
that the tournament was exceptionally well organised and ran 
"on smooth well oiled wheels". (By the day's end, the wheels were 
not the only things well oiled).

Prizes worth well over $4,000 (excluding Zimbabwe Sun's donations of 
weekend holidays details later) were donated, which indicates the
professional begging talents of some Committee members.

John Kelly, the President of Wingate expressed his thanks to the 
Irish Association and hoped that the St. Patrick's Day Golf 
tournament would remain an annual event on the Wingate Calendar in 
the future, as it has done for so many years in the past.

The Tony O'Sullivan Trophy was won by Connaught, and looking at them, 
ably led by Fr. Jim Doyle a Catholic Christian. I said to herself,
"The assembly of God' You'd be more likely to find an Irishman 
among Jack Charlton's boys than find a true Connaught man in 
that lot". "You're a terrible begruddger", herself replied.

The John Sisk Trophy went to John Gallagher with an excellent 
score of 39 points: Michael Coyne won the Charles Harris Trophy; 
Michael's form was such that we may be seeing Nicky Price Mk II, 
in the making.

When the garden furniture prize, the huge hamper and all the other 
prizes were locked safely away, the bar was filled, then over 
filled, the craic was on, and the fragrant aroma of hops, malt 
and barley, permeated the air. The Irish were at their jubilant, 
extrovertial, happy, spontaneous, lovable best once again.

St. Patrick's Night Ball was held at the Monomatapa Hotel on 
Saturday 19th March 1993.  It was fully booked, to the delight of 
all, and to the relief of Raph Keegan and Kathy Keen.  Raph and 
Kathy were the chief organisers for the MIA and the Mono 
respectively.  (Watching how bookings are going when time of a 
function is drawing near, must be an ulcer making experience for 
those who must ultimately carry the can).

The Ball was advertised, 7.30 for 8.00 p.m., and doors to the 
function room were closed to the early comers.  This turned out to 
be whether intentionally or not an excellent idea for it created 
"a let's get to know each other quickly mood", and in an ante area 
we co mixed amicably.  The area itself was a delight to the eye 
and a pleasure to the olfactory senses; flower arrangements 
everywhere and Bord Failte posters on the wall.

The decor for both the area ante the function room, and the function 
room itself was designed by June Cartwright, a very talented lady, 
who I am told does this sort of work in her spare time only.  One 
original and apt piece of decorative design, created, I am sure, 
by artistic hands other than those of June Cartwright, was to be 
found on the door to the Gents loo where someone had affixed to 
the genital area of the little male with legs apart symbol, 
a bunch of recently watered shamrock.

At 8 p.m. the doors to the function room were opened and Wow! what a 
visual impact, the decor artist had thematically decorated the hall.
There were huge Tara broaches, harps, shamrocks, leprechauns, gaelic
prayers and greetings and still more Bord Failte posters, 
furthermore, there were bouquets of flowers about 2 metres tall 
affixed, somehow, to all the walls. The stunning floral 
arrangements were donated by Bell's Florist.

We went to our tables, the place was alive with waiters and 
waitresses, the Quick Silver Band, already on their rostrum, 
struck up the tune Phil The Fluters Ball and I called out 
"Waitress Please", there's nothing queer about Peter from Wexford.

Paul Robinson was M.C. and organiser of entertainment. He did both
jobs in his usual professional manner.  Paul welcomed us all in 
Gaelic and then in English, he then called on an tAthair Seamus 
O'Dubleigh (Fr. Jim Doyle) to say Grace and to my surprise, 
Fr. Doyle said Grace in Gaelic.  I was not aware that he was of the
Gaelic esoteric set, but fair play to you Jim.

Dinner was swiftly served, swiftly too was it consumed as the 
portions were barely visible to the naked eye, and I maybe wrong 
as I am no gourmet, but I had upon my plate strips of what looked
like, and tasted like, potato skins and my suspicions are that 
somebody told the chef that the Irish like "their potatoes in 
their jackets", especially at a St. Patrick's Day function, but 
the chef got the message wrong.  Apart from the skins and the 
minikin portions the meal otherwise,was first class.

The meal kicked off with Smoked Salmon, full marks. This was 
followed by Celery and Potato Soup, first class. Then came either 
Baked Gammon or Irish Stew.  I chose Gammon, those who chose the 
Stew may have fared better. The Sweet was excellent, Bailey's Cream 
on Apple Pie, all rounded off with a glass of Irish Coffee, 
"on the house", and the band played on.

Helen Connolly, the wife of our then MIA President, gave the first 
toast, "Zimbabwe, the country in which we live". Helen spoke first 
in Gaelic and then in English.  Here I mention, en passant, that 
at College, Helen majored in Gaelic languages.  In previous 
newsletters, I have extolled the quality of her voice and projection
so I shall not embarrass the lady with excessive praise, I will, 
however, pass on the remark made by another at our table when she 
had given the toast "I don't know a word of Irish, but she sure 
makes prose sound like poetry".

A guest speaker, Sr. Catherine Jackson, came to the 'Mike'. Guest 
Speaker a nun?  Any doubts were soon dispelled for this very smart 
lady managed to capture us in her very first sentence.  "Only the 
Irish would celebrate St. Patrick on the feast of St. Joseph".  
The remark received great applause and we soon learned to our joy 
that the first humorous remark was to be followed by many, many more.  
Time and time again her speech was interrupted by applause and 
guffaws of laughter.  This nun was a Stand Up Comedienne, but 
entwined with the comedy the serious business was now and then 
revealed.  Sr. Catherine has started a Braille Library, which will 
serve not only Zimbabwe, but the whole region, the project needs 
machinery for Braille printing which means money -
Can we help?

A member of the Committee has told me that the Braille Library 
has been placed high on the Mashonaland Irish Association Charity 
List, and I think those of us not living in a world of perpetual 
darkness will agree.  When the nun gave us the toast to Ireland 
the Land of our birth,she received a spontaneous and very deserving 
standing ovation.  I don't know who 'found' Sr. Catherine Jackson, 
but whoever it was can take a bow for he/she made a great 
contribution to the success of the night.

Our Vice President, Raph Keegan, welcomed our Special Guests from 
the Kindred Societies, and expressed his regret to learn that 
Mr.Whitley would be hanging up his Chain of Office as the Yorks and
Lancs were ceasing to function as an ethnic society.  He got a few 
laughs but essentially it was as it had to be a serious speech, 
as all donors must be acknowledged and it was a very long list 
indeed, so we owe our sincere thanks to:

Wheelan Associates, Architects;
Lamont Engineering, Consultants;
The Fitzwilliam Partnership, Quantity Surveyors;
John Sisk; Contractors;
Costain (Africa); Contractors;
Ascon Testing Laboratories;
Lorenzo Simion Metal Work;
Hancock and Ward Plumbing;
Minet Insurance;
Steelforce Reinforcing;
Precast Concrete;
Crittall Hope Doors and Windows;
JAK Engineering;
Neeves Ironcraft;
Ceely Electric;
Shane Moran;
Frank Pentony;
John Hall;
Instalite and John Gallagher.  
(The list presented in no particular order).

The Zimbabwe Sun donated free weekends for two at many of the 
Zimbabwe hotels which included the top notch resorts such as 
Elephant Hills, Bumi Hills, Montclair Casino and a number of 
free days at Sun City in South Africa of which we shall hear later.
We certainly benefited from holding our function at the Monomatapa.  
Raph proposed a toast to our Special Guests, our sponsors and absent
friends, and the band played on.

Mr. Whitley, the President of the now defunct Yorks and Lancs said
a few words of regret about the passing of his small Society, a 
few words about memories of past years and no doubt we shall be 
seeing him and his wife at the next St. Patrick's Night Ball.  
Brian Black, Vice Chairman of the Mashonaland Turf Club replied 
on behalf of the Special Guests to Raph's speech.  His was quite 
a witty speech despite some friendly banter from his own group 
situated at the far end of the hall.

As I went to enjoy myself and not to be a pseudo reporter with pen 
going at a maniacal pace jotting down every word spoken, I think 
it was Mr. Black who told an "Irish" joke the gist of which was, 
Mick and Pat are the Don Juans of the village and they were wont 
to exchange details of their sexual conquests, but on this occasion,
Mick was troubled as he had broken their unwritten code and bonked 
a married woman.  Pat was sympathetic and told Mick he should 
go for confession to Fr. Murphy. Mick did as suggested, he told 
Fr. Murphy that he had done the dirty thing with a married woman.  
"Mrs. Kelly, I suppose", said the priest. "Ah no, Father", Mick 
replied. "Tell me then, would it have been Mrs. Nulty?" the priest 
asked. "Ah no, Father but I couldn't tell you who".  The priest 
gave him absolution and Mick went out to his friend.
"How did it go Mick, any problems?".  "No problem at all Pat and 
we have got two new names".

Brian Black had brought very amusingly to an end all the speeches, 
the lights were lowered and the first couple on the dance floor 
were our pet Dublin atheist and Muriel Ryan, soon they were followed
by other couples until the floor was crowded with happy revelers and
serious romantics.  Later in the night, Muriel drifted from her
partner not the atheist and gave us a solo performance that was a 
cross between balletic grace and Gallic apache abandon and if you 
can't imagine that, how the hell do you expect me to describe it, 
enough for me to say, it was a memorable performance that was 
right down to earth and the band played on; and there were
plenty of spot prizes.  Eventually the Quick Silver Band with a very 
competent Perry Como type of singer took a break.  (The band was 
very good right through the night). During this break, Paul 
Robinson told us about Paddy Mk I, out on the mountain tending 
sheep and courting couples in some asshole area of the 
emerald plot and how the poor devil formed his first church and 
generally acted in a manner appropriate to sainthood.

John Humphries, tenor, gave us a few songs, and when he sang the 
Rose of Tralee, we in true Irish fashion, all joined in. I have 
always felt sorry for Rose, for she only had one eye; "It was not 
her beauty alone that won me, ah no, 'twas the truth in 
her eye ever dawning that made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee".  
Not to be outdone by the laity, Fr. Jim Doyle a Baritone golfer sang
a number of songs and as John Paul II has forbidden the priests and 
nuns to read an Nuacht, someone will have to pass on this piece of 
praise.  Jim is always good for a song, he has a strong 
but musically sweet singing voice, but on this occasion he was at his 
best and his Fields of Athenry was a delightful rendering of that 
emotionally disturbing near hymn. Paul Robinson, this time on 
the electronic contraption known I think as a synthesizer, but 
sounding like a piano played Nocturne by little known Irish 
composer, John Field.  (It was Field who gave the same Nocturne to 
the particular kind of music and Chopin admitted being influenced by
the Irishman).  Claire McKenna a very competent flautist 
played some numbers suited to the instrument including the Foster 
and Allen "Bunch of Thyme".  Her brother later joined on the Bodran
(I think that is a wrong spelling) and together they played some 
lively jigs to which Colette O'Brien danced.  Barry McCurdy, looking
like, and sounding like, Ian Paisley, gave us an hilarious "sermon"
on the Wrath of God due to the Papist devils spreading their ever 
growing testicles across the world; a very funny performance indeed.  
Kathy Keen and Dave Hipwell were in charge of raffles and the main 
prize, four days at Sun City, was won by the Ryans, Ken and Muriel, 
who had traveled from Ireland for the Ball (they have been doing so 
for many years). The Ryans had a little head to head chat, then Ken 
stood up and announced they would re donate the prize which Dave 
Hipwell was requested to auction, and the money accrued to be given 
to Sr. Catherine for her braille library.  What a marvellous 
and generous gesture.

Dave started the bid "Right, starting at Two Fifty".  "Three Hundred" 
another, "Three Fifty" and so it went "Four Hundred".  A young lady 
in a lovely green dress, probably a bit impatient, jumped to her 
feet and shouted "Eight Hundred" and before another could bid, she 
out bid herself with "Eight Fifty". Her escort didn't faint but he 
took a swift gulp of whiskey.  The young lady's four hundred and 
fifty dollars jump to the bidding seems to have inspired those at 
the Horsey table.  I think it was Brian Black who shouted "One 
Thousand Five Hundred", was that Tony O'Sullivan who shouted 
"Two Thousand Five Hundred"? Now, I'm pretty certain that none
of these people was really interested in a visit to Sun City, their 
interest was in Sr. Catherine's library and with a spirit of fun and 
great generosity, they outbid each other until Henk Leyenaar reached 
either Three Thousand Five Hundred or Four Thousand Dollars.  
What a grand gesture by these people and what a joy to the heart 
of Sr. Catherine Jackson, O.P.

It was now time to select the best dressed (in green) lady in the 
hall, and the ladies were called to the fore. Being a lousy reporter,
I forgot to get the name of the winner.  I thought the girls 
looked lovely but a thin lipped libber at our table said 
"Disgraceful, parading young girls like heifers ready for market".  
"I agree with you said the atheist, sure its flying in the face 
of God". More dancing then, 12 O'Clock, midnight, and the band 
played on.

Get Well Soon.
We were sorry to hear that Kitty Bishop broke her leg in a recent 
fall.
Gerry Ryan has also undergone surgery.
We wish them both a speedy
recovery.

We were shocked at the news of the passing of Tom Coyne, a long 
standing and respected member of our association.  One word came up 
time and time again in the many notices of condolences, that word 
was Gentleman and this writer cannot think of a more appropriate 
description except, perhaps, to prefix itwith the word

"Kind".

The President of Mashonaland Irish Association, his Committee and all 
the members extend our deepest sympathy to the bereaved Coyne family.

Forthcoming
Family Day, Sunday 11th September 1993

To be held at the home of Padraig & Helen Connolly, further
details will be sent out at a later date.