Off the air: Michael Lyons is retiring from his regular show on 2SER FM.

One of Sydney’s best-known Irish radio veterans has revealed he will hang up his microphone at 2SER FM for the last time at the end of January.

Michael Lyons, the producer and presenter of The Sydney Irish Radio Show on Sunday mornings said he believes it is time to step down after working with the station for more than three decades.

Mr Lyons, who is originally from Killenaule in Co Tipperary has been associated with the station since its launch in 1979.

“I have been working with the station for 32 years and producing it for the last 17 years, so I think it is time to move on,” he said.

“You lose some of that energy after doing it for so long, and I feel that I was neglecting the show because my time is being divided between it and doing a degree in aged care. I had to make a choice between the two, and I think that at 66 years old, it is right that my studies in aged care win out.”

Throughout his years with the station, Michael had some high-profile interviewees, including one of the first radio interviews with President Mary McAleese after she was elected.

“We were told that President McAleese would be able to speak with us for just 10 minutes, but she stayed chatting for close to 30 minutes, which was wonderful,”he said.

“We were first on the scene with our live cross to Co Tyrone on the morning of the Omagh bombing, and as the Good Friday Agreement news broke we crossed live to Barry McElduff in Belfast.”

Michael added that he believes radio has become very important to the Irish living in Australia today because of the need to maintain a connection to the Irish community.

“When the station started in the 1970s we had no email or Twitter, so people living in Australia needed that connection to Irishness. The internet made radio less relevant, but now with all the changes in Ireland I think people are coming back to it.”

He confirmed that fellow Irishman Barry Mack would be taking over the reins when he steps down on January 29.

“Barry is a great supporter of Irish causes and an experienced radio presenter in his own right.”

The Sydney Irish Radio Show airs every Sunday between 8am and 9.30am on 107.3FM, and you can find out more by logging on to www.sydneyirishradio.com.

Declan Hosey, convenor of 'The Irish Show', with Rose of Tralee Tara Talbot (left).

Irish expats who are missing their traditional radio stations from back home can tune into an Irish show based in Queensland to get their fill of ceol agus caint.

The Irish Show, which is broadcast on 4EB FM 98.1 for one hour on Saturdays, has been in operation for more than 30 years.

The programme, which is entirely produced and presented by a team of volunteers, features a range of Irish and traditional music, interviews and news from home and Australia.

It is one of more than 50 language groups that make up the Brisbane-based multilingual station.

Station convenor Declan Hosey originally from Hacketstown in Cork, said the show has proved very popular with both Irish living in Australia and further afield.

“The show varies from week to week, but usually there will be a good mix of Irish music, community announcements and discussion, depending what stories have been in the news. People can ring in and play a request for a song, and they tell us how much they enjoy the show. There are even a few people in America who tune into us on the internet.”

Mr Hosey said that the show relies on grants and a membership fee to stay running, and that the more members a language group has, the more airtime they get. He added that new members and volunteers are always welcome to join in.

“The station itself is all about language, but it is different for Irish people because most of us speak English at home. There are one or two presenters that speak in Irish, and they can do an interview in Irish if the interviewee is happy to.”

The Irish show is broadcast on 4EB FM 98.1  between 12.30pm and 1.30pm on Saturdays.


Jim Edwards' great-grandmother came to Australia as an Irish famine orphan. (Pic: Irish Echo/Martin Brady)

An 86-year-old Sydney man became the first Australian to be given a certificate of Irish heritage recently.

Irish Consul General, Caitríona Ingoldsby, presented North Shore resident Jim Edwards with the certificate at a special ceremony at Hyde Park Barracks on December 9.

His great-grandmother Hannah Rafferty, from Co Roscommon, was one of more than 4,000 young Irish orphan girls sent to Australia between 1848 and 1850 in the aftermath of the Irish Famine, and whose lives are celebrated and remembered by the Irish Famine Memorial at Hyde Park Barracks, where the girls were housed when they first arrived in Sydney.

Mr Edwards said he was delighted with his certificate.

“I’m overwhelmed because I never expected anything like this. I only got it as far as I’m concerned because I’m a representative of the [Rafferty] family,” said Mr Edwards.

“[Hannah] was orphaned during the Famine,” explained Jim. “She came out on the Digby in 1848.”

After being sent to Bathurst, Hannah met Jim’s great-grandfather. The pair married and had seven children. But when tragedy struck and left Hannah widowed, she raised the children on her own. She later remarried.

Asked what he admired about his Irish ancestors, Mr Edwards said it was “their attitude of self-sufficiency, even though you had lost the bread-winner, you still survived”.

Mr Edwards’ daughter, Sue Donald, 59, accompanied her father to the ceremony.

“He’s put a lot of work into the family tree. So it’s great to get that recognition,” she said.

Ms Ingoldsby, who presented the certificate on behalf of the Irish Government, said she was struck by Jim’s “extraordinary story”ß¡.

“Behind this apparently ‘ordinary’ Australian man was an extraordinary story of Ireland and of Australia, and of a young Irish girl who, like many emigrants before and since, had the courage to embrace the opportunity this wonderful country gave her.”

An increasing number of Irish workers are finding sponsorship with Australian companies, according to the latest statistics.

An increasing number of Irish workers are finding sponsorship with Australian companies, according to the latest statistics.

Figures released by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) show that Irish citizens were granted 1,460 primary 457 visas in the last year until 30 September 2011, a significant increase on the figure of 830 for the same period in 2010.

The four-year 457s are temporary residence visas offered to skilled workers and their dependants who are sponsored by an Australian company.

Primary visa grants refer to people who applied for sponsorship for their own behalf, while secondary applicants are those attached to partners’ applications.

The top three citizenship countries for primary visa grants from July to the end of September 2011 were the United Kingdom (25.4 per cent), India (17.9 per cent) and Ireland (8.6 per cent).

The number of primary visa holders in Australia at 30 September 2011 was 77,250 – an increase of 10 per cent in comparison with the same date last year.

New South Wales emerged as the most popular destination for migrants, which held 36.2 per cent of 457 visa grants during that period, followed by Victoria (20.9 per cent) and Western Australia (20.9 per cent).

These states were also the top three nominated locations for primary subclass 457 visa grants in the last programme year.

Following this trend, Irish citizens made up 2,580 of the 457 visa holders in NSW as of the end of September, followed by 1,480 in resource-rich Western Australia and 1,300 in Victoria.

The number of subclass 457s granted from July to the end of September 2011 was 54.2 per cent higher than the same period last year. However, the number of primary visas granted in September 2011 was 2.8 per cent lower than in August.

There was little change in the top three industries for primary visa grants, with healthcare and social assistance (13.5 per cent), other services (12.4 per cent) and construction (12.0 per cent) continuing to top the list.

Irish citizens were granted a total of 14,833 working holiday 417 visas between 2009 and 2010, which was a drop of 7,953 on the previous year.

Ireland's International Rules squad were among the thousands of travelers left stranded after Qantas Airways decided to ground all its planes in response to industrial action. (Pic: Darryl Kennedy)

Ireland’s Ireland International Rules squad was left stranded in Melbourne on Saturday by the Qantas Airways industrial dispute, which saw all the company’s internal and international flights grounded – a total of 108 planes at 22 airports.

Anthony Tohill’s men were due to fly from Melbourne to Sydney where a three-day rest and training camp had been scheduled.

The Irish management, players and travelling officials and members of the media were at gate 23 about to board the plane when Qantas cancelled all flights without notice.

After a hectic couple of hours, the squad and staff stayed overnight in a Melbourne airport hotel before deciding to fly directly to Queensland’s Gold Coast for Friday’s second test.

“We were very lucky to get it sorted out so quickly. We were lucky with the hotel that we got. It could have been a lot worse. A lot of people were lounging around hotels without a room. We were all checked in by 8.30,” GAA director of games administration and player welfare Feargal McGill told the Irish Times.

:: Upbeat

“The players are in great spirit. They understand that it couldn’t be avoided. They are still upbeat and there was plenty of craic in the camp.”

In a statement on Saturday, the airline said that it was “locking out all employees who will be covered by the industrial agreements currently being negotiated with the Australian Licenced Engineers Union (ALAEA), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Australian and International Pilots Union (AIPA)”.

“This step is being taken under the provisions of the Fair Work Act in response to industrial action taken by these unions. The financial impact of action taken to date has reached $68 million and the action is costing Qantas approximately $15 million per week in lost revenue. Approximately 70,000 passengers have been affected and more than 600 flights cancelled,” the statement continued.

“Pilots, licenced engineers and baggage, ground and catering staff are essential to Qantas operations and the lock-out will therefore make it necessary for all Qantas aircraft to be grounded. For precautionary reasons, this will take place immediately.”

In the meantime, early this morning, Fair Work Australia stopped the carrier’s lockout of workers.

Qantas has said it hopes to have its planes in the air by mid-afternoon today.

After 12 hours of deliberations, the tribunal announced early this morning in Melbourne that it had upheld submissions by the Gillard government and Qantas to have the bargaining period terminated.

The decision means Qantas must reverse plans to lock out its workforce tonight and unions are prevented from taking legally protected industrial action.

Clarinbridge, shown here celebrating their 2011 All-Ireland Hurling title, will play an Australian select team in the curtain-raiser for tonight's International Rules match between Australia and Ireland.

Clarinbridge GAA Club were put through their paces by Tipperary hurling legend Nicky English in Melbourne this week, in the lead up to tonight’s challenge game at Etihad Stadium.

Earlier this month, Clarinbridge beat rivals Bishopstown (Cork), Glynn Barntown (Wexford) and Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) in a public vote for the greatest club achievement. They were crowned winners of the Best Club Down Under competition, clinching the trip to Australia.

Etihad Airways, which is a sponsor of the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship, created the special award to acknowledge the club, which had demonstrated its greatest achievement to date, both on and off the pitch.

Clarinbridge will play an Australian select team in the curtain-raiser for the International Rules match between Australia and Ireland.

Michael Donohue of Clarinbridge GAA said: “Everybody dreams of a trip to Australia. For us to travel under the title of Best Club Down Under and compete in a challenge game of this level in front of more than 15,000 people makes this better than we could have dreamt. We would like to thank Etihad Airways for this amazing opportunity.”

Justin Warby, Etihad Airways Country Manager Ireland, said: “Clarinbridge GAA Club deserved to win this trip. It is a fantastic opportunity for any club to be a part of and I truly hope it is successful in its challenge game against the Australian select team in Melbourne tonight.”

Clarinbridge was chosen for the trip because of its work for charities and its outstanding achievements on the pitch.

The Galway-based club has been the largest sporting and social club in Clarinbridge since its foundation in 1889. It has seen many successes on the field, winning its first county intermediate title in 1983.

In 2001, the players won their first county senior title by overcoming the then reigning All-Ireland Hurling Club champions, Athenry. In 2010, they won their second county senior title and went on to win the 2011 All-Ireland Hurling Club title, for the first time in their history, defeating Kilkenny’s O’Loughlin Gaels in Croke Park.

The Queensland Women's GAA team celebrate beating Western Australia by 4–11 to 1–11 to win the women's football prize at the Keppler's Championships held in Queensland Championship. (Pic: QGFA)

Gaelic sports are proving to be alive and more popular than ever after the Australasian Gaelic Games held one of its biggest Championships in Queensland recently.

Despite the flood damage that Brisbane’s Gaelic Park experienced earlier this year, the 2011 Keppler’s Championships saw 20 teams made up of five men’s, four women’s and three minor in football plus four hurling and four camogie competing between October 2 and 8.

Camogie was part of the games for the first time, with teams from Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland taking part. Queensland emerged as the eventual winners, beating WA in the camogie final on October 7.

Queensland Gaelic Football Association (QGFA) President Seamus Sullivan said the standard of sport displayed throughout the games was “phenomenal”.

“We had a wonderful games. The pitches are almost fully restored and there was a great turn out from all the states, though unfortunately there were no New Zealand teams this year due to the Rugby World Cup, which was understandable.

“The schools in Queensland were back so there were some teams that were down a few players, but you wouldn’t have noticed it because of the closeness between the scores. It was fantastic.”

:: Great potential

Sullivan said the popularity of the games is an example of how much Irish people have scattered across Australasia.

“Camogie has been played in New South Wales for a while now but for the states to come together like that to play at the games was phenomenal. There were six Australian girls on the Queensland camogie panel and they were brilliant.

“The minors in particular had a wonderful semi-final and final, so it is a great pity that more kids are not playing the sports because it proved that there is great potential out there.”

Secretary of the Australasian GAA Gerry Roe added that this years games were some of the best he had seen.

“We got every type of conditions, from sun to cloud to waterlogged pitches, but these games were some of the best I have seen for 25 years, the final scores in all the matches were only a few points or a goal apart.”

An “All Star” team comprising of the best 25 players from the Championships will play against a club team from Galway, Clarinbridge, in the curtain raiser to the International Rules game at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on October 28.

Sullivan, who is also the Australasian President of the GAA, said that he would not be surprised if the All Star team give the Clarinbridge a tough match, and added that he was extremely proud of what the games has achieved.

“The games have really expanded, they are getting very good. But it wouldn’t be possible without our group of volunteers and subcommittee, so I really have to thank every individual who took part because we really had a phenomenal games this year,” said Sullivan.

Backpackers Colm Reilly and Kiara Duncan were killed in a car crash in Perth in 2007.

The High Court has granted bail to an Irishman who allegedly caused the deaths of two Irish backpackers near Perth in 2007.

Australian authorities are seeking the extradition of Eamonn Mark Driver, 29, of Stanley Heights, Slane, Co Meath, on charges of causing the deaths of Colm Reilly, 20, a builder from Slane, and Kiara Duncan, 20, a beautician from Kentstown, Co Meath, by dangerous driving.

Mr Driver, a single man currently living on disability payments, was granted bail by Mr Justice John Edwards “on stringent conditions”. These include a surety of €75,000, that he sign in twice a week with gardaí, reside at his home address, not leave the jurisdiction and be of good behaviour.

The Australian Attorney-General’s Department told the Irish Echo: “On 15 September 2011, a 29-year-old Irish national was arrested in Ireland pursuant to an extradition request made by Australia.

The Irish national is wanted to face prosecution in Western Australia for two offences of dangerous driving occasioning death. The granting of bail and the consideration of Australia’s extradition request are matters for Irish authorities and it is not appropriate that we comment further.”

The bond was set at €75,000 after the judge was told that Mr Driver expected to receive “a six-figure payment” as compensation for injuries he sustained in a road crash in 2009, where the other side had admitted liability. The judge refused an application by Mr Driver’s lawyers for a recommendation that their legal costs be paid by the state.

Gardaí had expressed their concerns about granting Mr Driver bail.

Det Sgt Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit said that “from the beginning”, Mr Driver’s attitude towards the charges he faced has been “one of evasion”.

:: Shattered pelvis

He said Mr Driver left Australia shortly after the incident.

He said that the Australian authorities claimed that in about 2009, Mr Driver was in contact by telephone with them and had indicated that he intended to return, but did not do so. He had been living openly in Ireland since his return from Australia.

He said that he had suffered serious and permanent injuries to his leg in the 2009 road crash and would require surgery in the future.

It is alleged that Mr Driver was behind the wheel during the accident on Halloween night, 2007, which resulted in the deaths of Ms Duncan and Mr Reilly, and left Mr Driver himself in hospital with a shattered pelvis.

Mr Driver allegedly lost control of the Toyota Corolla hatchback he was driving on Broun Avenue, in the Broadford area of the city, careering across the median of the road, flipping, and crashing head-first into an oncoming car, driven by a 63-year-old woman, who escaped the crash without serious injury.

Up to seven people are believed to have been in the car at the time of the crash, with four of those passengers escaping without serious injuries.

Mr Reilly died instantly, while Ms Duncan passed away three days later in Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth.

A warrant for Mr Driver’s arrest was issued by the Australian attorney general’s office last year after he failed to appear in Perth magistrate’s court to face charges in connection with the crash.

A missing yacht, crewed by a 60-year old Kiwi and a 69-year-old Norwegian has arrived in Ireland tens days behind schedule.

A missing yacht which sparked a massive air and sea search has arrived in Ireland ten days behind schedule.

The Golden Eagle, with two men on board, had not been heard from since it left Bermuda on August 21.

The Coast Guard confirmed its crew were safe and well when they arrived in Portmagee, Co Kerry, at 3pm yesterday.

The men, a 69-year-old from Norway who owned the boat and an experienced 60-year-old sailor from New Zealand, were unaware of the continuing search operation.

“They had a little handheld VHF radio but were sparing the batteries so they hadn’t got it on at all until they were coming in,” said a Coast Guard spokesman.

“They said they had some slight damage to the sails and rigging because of bad weather.

“They also had to motor for a while because they had no wind for the first part of the trip.”

The Golden Eagle was due to arrive in Crookhaven, west Cork, on September 15.

The alarm was raised two days later when the family of the boat owner called the Norwegian Coast Guard who alerted Irish authorities.

The Navy and Air Corps were involved in the search off the south-west, while ships in the mid-Atlantic had been asked to try to contact the 32ft (9.8m) long yacht.

Backpackers Colm Reilly and Kiara Duncan were killed in a car crash in Perth in 2007.

An Irishman who allegedly caused the deaths of two Irish backpackers in Perth in 2007 has been arrested by gardaí.

Australian authorities are seeking the extradition of Eamon Mark Driver, 29, of Stanley Heights, Slane, Co Meath, on charges of causing the deaths of Colm Reilly, 20, a builder from Slane, and Kiara Duncan, 20, a beautician from Kentstown, Co Meath, by dangerous driving.

A spokesperson for Western Australia Police told the Irish Echo: “Currently he has been arrested by Irish authorities and his extradition has been approved. However, this is currently under an appeal process. We are waiting to be informed of the outcome of the appeal process.”

It is alleged that Mr Driver was behind the wheel during the accident on Halloween night, 2007, which resulted in the deaths of Ms Duncan and Mr Reilly, and left Mr Driver himself in hospital with a shattered pelvis.

Mr Driver allegedly lost control of the Toyota Corolla hatchback he was driving on Broun Avenue, in the Bedford area of the city, careering across the median of the road, flipping, and crashing head-first into an oncoming car, driven by a 63-year-old woman, who escaped the crash without serious injury.

:: Warrant for arrest

Up to seven people are believed to have been in the car at the time of the crash, with four of those passengers escaping without serious injuries.

Mr Reilly died instantly, while Ms Duncan passed away three days later in Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth.

A warrant for Mr Driver’s arrest was issued by the Australian attorney general’s office last year after he failed to appear in Perth magistrate’s court to face charges in connection with the fatal crash.

Det Garda Sgt Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit told the court that he had arrested Mr Driver at his home in Co Meath on foot of a warrant that had been previously endorsed by the High Court on Wednesday last week.

Det Garda Sgt Kirwan said when the charges contained in the warrant were put to Mr Driver, he replied: “I know what these are about.”

Mr Justice Brian McGovern remanded Mr Driver, who did not speak during the hearing, in custody and made the matter returnable to a sitting of the court later this month.