Waterford's new Museum of Time has proved a major attraction for Australia's ambassador to Ireland.
Gary Gray visited the city for the second time in a year yesterday, with his fiance Pippa and their dog Ted.
The couple also toured Waterford Walls and had a BBQ at the home of Brian Gordon and Emer Martin an Australian/Irish family in Dunmore East.
Ambassador Gray arrived to start his four-year term as Ambassador in August 2020, and despite spending a significant period of time under Covid-19 restrictions, he has already visited Waterford twice.
"Waterford is such a historic location, it's interesting as an Australian, but it holds a lot of Irish history, so it's wonderful to be here, wonderful to meet people and this won't be the last time I visit this part of the world."
In particular, the amateur astronomer, who is a member of the Perth observatory, said he couldn't wait to visit the 'terrific' new Museum of Time:
"Ireland plays an astonishing role in the development of the science of astronomy, in the building of telescopes, in mathematics, mathematical equations that build how we understand space and time... so dropping into the museum is something a nerd like me really enjoys."
Ambassador Gary Gray and WLR's Julie Smyth
Unlocking the country
Two and a half million Australians claim Irish heritage and the links between the two countries are very strong. However, the pandemic has meant that visits between the two countries have been largely impossible, in some instances causing great distress for people.
Ambassador Gray says it is unlikely the unlocking of Australia will begin this year:
"In a normal month, Australia would receive something in the order of 805,000 visitors, but since we've closed the country for Covid, that number is now less than 3,000. In recent weeks we've had very substantial people movement into Australia out of Afghanistan, and that's numbered over 4,000 people.
"It's difficult to get into Australia and we advise people not to leave. We don't want people to be travelling, even for dire circumstances. We're saying 'don't move, we want to control the disease'. We have a different way of doing it in Australia to that in Europe but those things do have human consequences."
Ambassador Gray says the country needs to vaccinate a much higher percentage of its population before it can begin to ease those travel restrictions.
Australia only began its vaccination programme in April, due to very low numbers of the virus in the country.
Currently, approximately 30% of the continent is double vaccinated, nevertheless the infection rates are much lower than in Ireland, as is the death rate.
listen to an excerpt of the interview with Ambassador Gray here
Visiting the locals
Pippa, Gary and their dog Ted with Brian Gordon and Emer Martin
The Ambassador was delighted to visit the home of Aussie Brian Gordon and his family in Dunmore East. The embassy got to know Brian through a fun programme called 'Interesting Aussie's in Ireland'.
Brian who is a talented kneeboard rider, woodwork production designer and picture framer framed a series of GAA jerseys which now adorn the walls of the Embassy in Killiney.
Brian moved to Dunmore East with his local-born wife Emer and their three boys from Byron Bay 11 years ago. He says immigrants to the country can contribute so much and he would like to see more encouragement of that.
Ambassador Gray encourages any Australians in Ireland to engage with the embassy through social media and to reach out if there is anything they can help with.
