Elizabeth Quinn

Montreal

ELIZABETH is a well-known figure in Montreal’s Irish community, having worked in various capacities with the United Irish Society for over 30 years.

‘You still don’t expect them to give you the Grand Marshal honour,’ she laughs. ‘I was shocked and humbled at the same time.’

On the prep she needs to do for the role, she adds: ‘I need to do a number of little speeches wherever I go and move from one spot to the other.

‘There’s lot going on in the Montreal parade. Supposedly it’s the second largest in North American, and has been running for 195 years. The United Irish Society has been running them for 90.’

Elizabeth is Irish on both sides of her family, and has roots in Cork and Mayo.

‘My father is Irish although he was born in Glasgow,’ she explains.

‘We’ve always celebrated being Irish all our lives. Since I was a little girl, you would out on your best clothes for St Patrick’s Day and out you went.

‘Being Irish is just part of me,’ she adds. ‘I’ve been brought up with Irish music around me. There’s a lot of similarities between the Irish and French-Canadian. They’re the ones who took Irish children in after the Famine and let them keep their names.

‘It’s still a vibrant community, even though the city has become so diverse. Walk down St. Catherine’s street and it’s like the League of Nations. Of course everyone’s Irish on March 17.’