Coderre, Son of Erin

Mayor Denis Coderre learned he was part Irish at his grandmother's knee.

Coderre, who will be the guest speaker at the St. Patrick's Society's Annual Luncheon in March, says he was aware of his family background "from the very beginning. My maternal grandmother, Helen McCabe, told me stories about coming here from Ireland, she never let me forget that I was Irish, or my Irish roots.”

The mayor, who was once an altar server, has often joked that he inherited his stubborn determination and drive from his grandmother. 

500,000 Quebecers describe themselves as Irish Quebecers, but actually two million have some Irish background - people with names like Charest, Sevigny,

Duceppe, Bourque and Dore. The province has been shaped by the blending of the two cultures. 

 

 

Three members of the same Irish family wound up being premiers of the province: Daniel Johnson, who derived his interest in politics from his Irish grandparents,

was premier from 1966-68, and his sons Pierre Marc and Daniel Jr. also were premiers - one a Liberal, the other a Péquiste. 

Mayor Coderre will be talking about his Irish heritage at the banquet which will be held at the Sheraton Hotel on March 17th. In order to accommodate everyone, tickets to the event are being sold at "early bird" prices until January 15th. Normally, the individual tickets are $85, but between now and January 15 they are $75.

A regular table for ten can be purchased for $750; corporate tables, which include premium seating and unlimited beverages are $1300 before Jan 15, which represents a $100 saving. 

For tickets, phone 514-481-1346514-481-1346 or e mail the Society office at T .