Douglas – It was a historical day Monday, March 15 when the Irish Ambassador to Canada took a drive from Ottawa to Douglas, dropped into the Douglas Tavern with his wife, enjoyed a pint of Guinness, honoured retiring tavern owners Terry and Evelyn McHale and feasted on Terry Cull’s Irish stew, homemade buns, tea biscuits and deserts.
Dr. Eamonn McKee and his wife, Mary arrived at the tavern a few minutes after 12 noon and paid tribute to the McHales who have sold the tavern after almost 50 years of ownership. They were joined by the Deputy Head of Mission John Boylan who represented the Irish Embassy at the 2020 St. Patrick’s Parade in the community known as the Home of the Leprechauns.
Ambassador McKee and his wife arrived in Canada last September 10 with their cat, landing in an almost deserted Pearson International Airport before flying on to Ottawa.
“It was very strange because we arrived in a time of COVID and as my wife likes to say, we moved houses, but we didn’t move country because we haven’t really seen very much!”
However, had the world not been gripped in a pandemic, the opportunity for the McKees to visit the McHales at this most important time of the year for those of Irish descent would not have happened because they would have been busy attending and hosting Irish events and celebrations.
“Normally, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to come to Douglas because I would be busy otherwise.”
The ambassador’s visit was arranged by Douglas native Joseph Cull, a brother to auctioneer and parade committee member Preston Cull.
“I ran into Joe Cull and Joe Cull says, ‘you know, the tavern is closing down. It’s really sad. Could we do something?’
“I said yes, of course, because we are free. This was the perfect opportunity.”
Amassador McKee said it was a sad opportunity to see the tavern closing because he knew how important it has been to the community for 50 years and more because so many Irish have settled in the area.
“But we felt it was just a good opportunity to come and say thank you to Terry and Evelyn McHale for everything they have done to sustain the Irish culture here and to be kind of a green beacon to the Irish community.”
Although the McKees have been in Canada for more than six months, their visit to Douglas was his first real official function since being named Ambassador to Canada because of the restrictions brought on by COVID-19.
