My name is Rita Hardenbrook. My mum, Rita (Mairead) McEnaney, hails from Balbriggan and my dad, Joe McEnaney, from both Bundoran and Monaghan Town. I have served on the executive a few years now as Recording Secretary and currently Social Secretary. So please forward any happy or sad news going on in club members lives so we can pass it along to the membership!

Born in Dublin in 1963 I immigrated to Canada in 1984 as a nanny and shortly thereafter joined the Irish Canadian Club. Being a stranger in a new country I was welcomed warmly into the Irish Canadian community. I have been a member of the executive since 1994 holding the positions of Building Chair, Inside Entertainment and Outside Entertainment. I have 2 daughters and currently run a home daycare and am proud to share my Irish heritage with my children and the kids in the daycare. I look forward to the challenges of being President of the Irish Canadian Club and welcome all members to come out and support your Club.

 

I have been a member of the club since 1982, and have been a member of the Board since 1986 – as Publicity Director, President and Vice President. As a historian by trade, I have written and lectured extensively on the history of the Club and the wider Irish community in Hamilton and Canada.
I am proud to have arranged funding from the Irish Government’s Emigrant Support Programme for the chair lift for our seniors and for renovations and expansion of our library and audio-visual system.
I have also written and produced our Bloomsday celebrations of James Joyce for several years, and 2013’s centenary commemoration of the 1913 Dublin Lockout.