The Australian-Irish Heritage Association (AIHA) of Western Australia is teaming up with Perth’s Celtic Club for a new winter cinema season celebrating Irish film, culture and community.
The season continues on Saturday, 22 August at 2pm with The Van, the 1996 comedy-drama based on Roddy Doyle’s novel and the third instalment in his Barrytown trilogy.
Set in a Dublin suburb, the film follows Bimbo, a baker who loses his job and, with his best friend Larry, decides to buy a battered van and start a mobile burger business. Starring Colm Meaney, Brendan O’Carroll and Jon Kenny and directed by Stephen Frears, The Van is a warm and funny story of friendship, family, unemployment and entrepreneurial enthusiasm.
The afternoon at the Celtic Club, 48 Ord Street, West Perth, will also include a supporting Irish documentary, plus afternoon tea, coffee and cakes. Entry is a $20 donation to cover catering and costs.
Movie-goers can also make a day of it, with lunch available at the Celtic Club from noon, including a special movie lunch of a bacon and egg roll and coffee for $20. Bar facilities are available.
The collaboration between the AIHA and Celtic Club is a natural fit. The two organisations have established a partnership which gives AIHA members reciprocal membership of the club, and they have already worked together on presentations, meetings, social events and the launch of the winter cinema season.
The AIHA, established in 1993, is a non-political and non-sectarian organisation dedicated to promoting awareness of Australia’s Irish heritage. It publishes the quarterly Journal, organises events and commemorations, and presents the annual Brendan Award recognising outstanding contributions to Australia’s Irish heritage. For more information and to join, go to https://irishheritage.com.au/
The cinema season provides another way of bringing that heritage to the wider community – through a good Irish film, a comfortable venue and the chance to meet up with others.
The Van – Saturday, 22 August, 2pm
Celtic Club, 48 Ord Street, West Perth
Entry: $20, including afternoon tea, coffee and cakes.
A Sam Neill film is planned for the next screening on Saturday, 26 September.
Anglo&Celtic 