ABOUT US

The Waikato Irish society is an inclusive organisation which endeavors to connect Irish people throughout the Waikato and showcase our Irish heritage within the community.

ABOUT US

The Waikato Irish Society was Incorporated in 1984 but the Irish have been in the Waikato from the very beginning. In past decade it’s been important point of contact for the many Irish families around the region from Thames in the Coromandel to Te Kuiti in the south, with St Patricks Day & the Rose of Tralee being a large part of this culture. As you drive around the many towns like Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Morrinsville and Matamata you meet families whose ancestors arrived in the late 1800’s and they keep coming. Irish from a variety of backgrounds and professions including doctors, farmer’s, teachers, and nurses. Some like myself have married a kiwi while they were on their OE, and have settled here to raise a family who are proud to wear the green and black.


As you wander down by the Waikato River in Hamilton you see a plaque dedicated to Teresa Vowless an Irish immigrant, who while arriving on the boat gave her baby to a friend and made a splash into local history by being the first white woman ashore. After her Husband died, she raised her eight children by herself and kept her 50-acre farm going. Our local historian Cathy O'Shea-Farrant did a wonderful paper on Irishtown in Hamilton East 1864-1940 which is full of valuable information and available via the Waikato University website.


In more recent years the community is booming with two Irish dancing schools, a Gaelic football club and a host of musical talent. The Link to Ireland is stronger than ever with Irish farming companies on show at the Field days and many of the finest Waikato rugby players proud to wear the green of Ireland as they reach new heights. Sure, on a good day you can bump into a few ex Ireland coaches at the beach in Waihi or having a coffee in Cambridge. So, here’s to the future and keeping the Waikato Green. 

Our Commitee

John Davis

President

Born in St Margaret’s, North County Dublin (Just out the back of Dublin Airport), I moved to London in the early 90’s where I worked in a few Irish pubs before meeting my future Kiwi wife Gaye. I then joined the Royal engineers for 6 years serving In Bosnia and around the world. We got married in London in 1999 before I left the army and we spent a while backpacking back to NZ via Africa & South America before settling down in Cambridge. I started working for Hamilton City Council while doing up our house and having three little girls, Eva, Aimee & Kate. We then moved to Newstead and an older house on a few acres before having our son Thomas & starting my own Surveying Business. I love all sports and have played soccer, rugby & returned to playing gaelic football with our Waikato Club Naomh Cristoir were I coach the men’s team.


Stepping into the role of Waikato Irish Society President I felt it needed a boost with so many Irish family’s both new and older in the wider Waikato. I hope to grow it and support the many other Irish groups in the community and give us something to show how proud we are to be Irish & Kiwis.

Joey O Neill

Treasurer

Originally from Co. Clare, I’ve been in Hamilton since 2013, having spent time in France, Australia and Auckland prior to that. Married to Anne, we are kept busy with four littles ones – Aoibhe, Orla, Joey Jnr and Liam. I’ve spent most of my youth with a hurley or soccer ball close by, and these days mostly to be found enjoying the wonderful great outdoors in New Zealand in my spare time.


Since arriving in NZ I’ve been involved in dairy manufacturing in various capacities and currently work for Fonterra. I’m very keen to help the Waikato Irish Society develop into a touchpoint for anyone with an interest in Irish culture in the Waikato.


Tracy Cooper

Secretary

Originally from Shannon, Co Clare, I moved to New Zealand 10 years ago with my husband, who is from the Waikato, and our oldest daughter. Our youngest daughter was born in Hamilton. Both my girls are very involved with Irish dancing and compete around New Zealand with their school -  Fox School of Irish Dance. The divide usually becomes apparent in our house when the All Blacks play Ireland in Rugby as we have 2 All Blacks supporters and 2 Irish.


From personal experience I understand the value of being able to connect with people who share the same culture as you when living such a long way from home.

The Waikato Irish Society is here to support the Irish community living and moving to the surrounding areas and to help in any way possible to make the transition easier.


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