Published Date: December 9th, 2021
After the 2020 event had to be cancelled, the Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce resumed normal service on Tuesday, holding its ever-popular Christmas party for members and guests. This year, the venue was the newly renovated Hurley’s Irish Pub on Rue Crescent in downtown Montreal, a favorite spot for many of the Irish community in the city.
The party was an opportunity to gather in an informal and convivial setting, welcome back some familiar faces and introduce the chamber to some new members. Indeed, building the membership base is a priority for the Board, led by President Paul Dunne.
“Our members are the lifeblood of the organization,” said Mr. Dunne. “It is always pleasing when new individuals or companies join the ICCC as it gives us another point of contact with the business community in Montreal and also boosts the networking possibilities for our other members. Our mission is to foster close commercial relations between Canada and the island of Ireland, and in doing so, promote the business activities of our members.
“While the objective of the Christmas party is to get together and have some fun at the end of the year, it is also an opportunity for members to chat about their business activities, share ideas and strengthen contacts. I think on all those fronts, this year’s party was a resounding success.”
Representing the Embassy of Ireland was Deputy Head of Mission John Boylan from Salthill in Galway, who addressed the gathering. He said: “We have exciting and ambitious plans at the Embassy to engage with Irish-Canadian businesses in 2022 and it is always very encouraging for us to see the good work being carried out in Montreal to promote and engage that community, not to mention the current energy and vibrancy within the Chamber of Commerce. We thank you for all your efforts – it is genuinely appreciated. On behalf of the Ambassador, Eamonn McKee, I am delighted to be here tonight and I know he will be back in Quebec very soon. We look forward to the year ahead when we can get out there and visit our partners around Canada once again. In that regard, Montreal is very much on our hit list.”
The event at Hurley’s was attended by around 100 people, including long-standing supporters from within Montreal’s Irish community but also an encouraging number of new faces who are adding a fresh feel to the Chamber. The party was the latest in a line of virtual and in-person events organized or supported by the ICCC in recent months that have included a fascinating presentation by Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney TD; a business lunch in the city with Robert Troy TD, Ireland’s Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; as well as monthly networking events at Hurley’s. Further events are planned for 2022, including a celebration marking the ICCC’s 30-year anniversary. More information on those events will follow shortly.
Mr. Dunne added: “On behalf of the Board of the Chamber, I would like to wish all our members a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year. I can assure them that the Chamber is here to help in any way we can with promoting and supporting the growth and continued success of their businesses. We are always open to new ideas as to how we can achieve that and I appeal to them to share any thoughts they might have in that regard.”