In conversation: Jane Quinn
National Coordinator of the Friends of Ireland - The Tara Trust
Hi Jane, thanks for taking the time to speak to us. Tell us a little about yourself.
I arrived in New Zealand in 1988 and became part of the Irish community not long after arriving. I met my Antrim-born husband Gerry here and we have two adult children. When my children reached school age, I took the opportunity to further my education at Auckland University to support a career in business and marketing.
Much of our early years was spent working and integrating ourselves in a new country and culture. Sport was a big part of life both playing and supporting Gaelic teams in Auckland. Watching my son play Gaelic football and my daughter learn Irish dancing are among the highlights for me.
During this time, I met the most wonderful friends who have become part of my Irish family here – having connections to home through our friends made the transition to life in NZ a lot easier. Like most emigrants that pull for family and friends in Ireland is very strong. Building new relationships here was a very important step in making New Zealand my home away from home.
You have been involved in Irish community life in New Zealand since you arrived here from Dublin. What have been some of the highlights?
The Irish community is of great importance to me. When time allowed, I worked with the Irish communities in various capacities. I was the secretary and VP of the Auckland GAA – being part of the team hosting the Australasian Gaelic Games in Auckland was another highlight for me. Over the years, I have been a board member for the Irish Business Network New Zealand (IBNNZ) and a trustee for the Auckland St Patrick’s Festival. More recently, I was VP and President of the Auckland Irish Society, one of the largest community networks in NZ. It was an honour to represent the many members and friends of Ireland who have worked and make the Club what it is today.
In recent months I have started a community group called Mná na hÉireann, aimed at promoting women in sport, culture, literature and the arts. I feel very fortunate to have all these Irish community groups in NZ. Keeping our Irish heritage alive within the diaspora and passing our culture onto the next generation is a privilege for me.
You’ve recently take on the role of National Coordinator of the Friends of Ireland – The Tara Trust. What does this involve and what are your ambitions in the role?
With support from the Government of Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme, The Tara Trust National Coordinator is available to all the Irish community groups in New Zealand. I assist with the promoting and advertising of events throughout NZ on a weekly basis. Our fundraising events help to assist the Irish diaspora in NZ that need financial and emotional assistance.
The goal for us is to have collaborative initiatives with the Irish community organisations and to create a network for information sharing and cooperation.
This role has proven to be very successful to date. We have seen how engaged our diaspora can be. With support from the Embassy in Wellington, our first collaborative event between the Irish Clubs, the GAA, Mná na hÉireann and others was the nationwide speaking tour by Irish sportswoman Sarah Rowe. Sarah toured NZ over a seven-day period ending with a ‘fireside chat’ event in the Embassy on 1 February to celebrate St Brigid’s Day.
We would like to continue this collaboration and continue to grow our Irish community and culture and to show how powerful Irish people in NZ are when they pull together.
In your view, what makes the Ireland-New Zealand relationship special?
The Ireland-New Zealand relationship is uniquely special due to our similarities. For example, the Irish people and the Māori people both have a deep connection to their culture, language, music, sport, and traditions. We both have an ability to laugh at ourselves, we enjoy family get-togethers, and many of the traditions around wakes and tangis (the Māori farewell to the deceased) are quite similar. The agriculture aspect here is very like Ireland, with rolling green hills and a strong farming tradition.
The Irish have contributed significantly to New Zealand society. Today, around one in six New Zealanders have Irish ancestry. Our many similarities can help our diaspora settle quickly and feel a sense of belonging here. And of course, the competitive spirit in sport is alive and well in both countries, especially on the rugby field.