Posted by Jim on October 22, 2019
Sign our Internet Petition, so that:
“Ireland, too, has the right to be one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Go to http://chng.it/8kvvrmrr
Scroll down to “ Reasons for signing”; insert your name; and give your reasons for signing.Then click “post.”Also, please contact your two U.S. Senators, and your Congressman/woman and ask for their support. I have written to all 100 U.S. Senators, and all 435 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives asking them to publicly “stand in solidarity with us and publicly support this Petition.”Let Congress and the world know where you stand.God bless America and God save Ireland.
Fr. Sean Mc Manus
President
Irish National Caucus
Chief Judge
World Peace Prize
P.O. BOX 15128
Capitol Hill
Washington, DC 20003-0849
Tel. 202-544-0568
Fax. 202-488-7537
Sean@IrishNationalCaucus.org
Sean@WorldPeace
PrizeWashington.org
IrishNationalCaucus.org
WorldPeacePrizeWashington.org
Fr. Sean Mc Manus
President
Irish National Caucus
Chief Judge
World Peace Prize
P.O. BOX 15128
Capitol Hill
Washington, DC 20003-0849
Tel. 202-544-0568
Posted by Jim on
IRISH CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING
Distributed to Congress by Irish National Caucus “This attached article is yet another sad reminder of the deep-seated, historic, and on-going anti-Catholicism in Northern Ireland. And it’s important to understand that ‘anti-Catholicism’ is not about differences in faith or theology. Rather ‘anti-Catholicism’ in Northern Ireland is about the British government-sponsored system and culture of oppressing and showing contempt for Catholics. Just as anti-Semitism in America is not about theological disagreements but about showing contempt for people of the Jewish faith or heritage. A few misguided Irish-Americans —who know nothing of British or Irish history—have tried to tell me that it is ‘counterproductive to progress’ to condemn such examples of anti-Catholicism. But they, thank God, do not speak for Irish-Americans. African-Americans correctly call out anti-Black racism, and I back them 100 percent. The same as I back Jewish-Americans who are not silent about some re-emergence of anti-Semitism in the US.”—Fr. Sean McManus.
Outrage at anti-Pope and IRA song chanted during Northern Ireland wedding
IrishCentral Staff@IrishCentral New York City. Monday, October 21, 2019
Shock has been expressed after a bride and groom in County Antrim sang “f*** the Pope and the IRA”, a hate-filled, anti-Catholic song as their wedding tune.
Shock and outrage has been expressed after a video emerged of a newly married couple, from the unionist tradition, singing an anti-Catholic song on their wedding day song to a room crowded with guests, including children who were encouraged to join in.
A video of the bride and groom singing “f*** the Pope and the IRA” at their wedding reception occurs as the couple enters the ballroom in a hotel in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, singing the blatantly sectarian lyrics. The incident occurred earlier this month.
Police investigation
Northern Ireland police investigated the video. The police told The Irish News “The incident in Carrickfergus was investigated as a hate incident; legal advice was sought as to whether any of the actions constituted a criminal offense.
“No offenses relating to the incident were identified.”
No one stepped in to stop the performance and the staff at The Belfast Loughshore Hotel said they were “not prepared to intervene” and “risk it becoming something much worse”.
Stephen Carson, Manager of the hotel, said: “The events had absolutely nothing to do with the owners, management or staff.
“To the many people commenting, ‘Why didn’t the hotel manager step in and put a stop to it?’, my answer is simple.
“I would never ask anyone to do something that I would not do. I can assure you all that I would not be prepared to risk what was a 90-second episode where no one was hurt becoming something much worse.”
The sectarian song is chanted by Glasgow Rangers football fans in Scotland and Unionists in Northern Ireland.
Social media outcry
Over 1.5 million people have seen the video online.
One user on Facebook said: “Disgraceful. They don’t think much of the guests and families and children. They must have a very sad life organizing to have that played at their wedding.”
Another stated: “Sad, sad couple if that’s all they could sing on their wedding day.”
A Twitter user commented: “Imagine; You finally get married to the love of your life. You and he are surrounded by love and all that’s in the minds of these two amadáns. Is “F**k the Pope and the IRA”. Miserable people ..I swear. [sic]”
The song’s opening lyrics read:
“When I was young I had no sense
I bought a flute for 50 pence
The only song that I could play
Was f- – – the Pope and the IRA.”
END
Posted by Jim on October 21, 2019
EDITOR IRISH NEWS
113-117 Donegal Street
BELFAST, Northern IRELAND
Re: Trevor Ringland –
Time to challenge those who want to chain us to flawed ideologies October 10,2019
RINGLAND’S’HOODED MEN’CHALLENGE
A chara
Trevor Ringland begrudges the ‘Hooded Men’ their court fight, putting British torture victims “well down the list” in his “hierarchy of wrongs that need to be investigated”. This solicitor and former candidate opposes nationalists pursuing legacy justice, “whether they’re doing it through the ballot box or law courts”. Why should Irish nationalists be allowed lawsuits or elected representatives troubling British rule?
Mr. Ringland prescribes his reconciliation formula. Everyone else takes full responsibility for their actions in the conflict. Everyone else repents political beliefs or “flawed ideologies” motivating their actions. See, hear, speak and remember no evil for which British rule and state violence could be faulted.
We pretend that Westminster had no responsibility for its Orange State, Internment, Ballymurphy or Springhill Massacres, collusion with loyalist killers and the like. Stop disturbing the crown with legacy cases in British courts, or by electing anyone who raises inconvenient truths.
If nationalists adopt this selective amnesia,(plus surrender hopes of a reunited Ireland), Mr. Ringland feels, it would “free up future generations from the legacy of hatred.”
Mr. Ringland’s hostility to the ‘Hooded Men’ fits in this puzzle. They were selected for Internment without charge by British military. They were then selected to be tortured by British troopers.
How do we explain the ‘Hooded Men’ without blaming Westminster? How do we fault sectarianism instead of the British regime? Brian Faulkner wanted Internment. Did Edward Heath, his cabinet and military really have to approve and unleash British troops to begin Internment, ‘Hooded Men’ torture and the Ballymurphy Massacre? Every court victory for these torture victims is a reminder that British officials backed Brian Faulkner with terror and repression because of Westminster’s deeply flawed Orange State hegemony and ideology.
Mr. Ringland instructs the ‘Hooded Men’ to wait their turn. It has only been 48 years. There are unsolved killings of British forces more worthy of investigation than mere Irishmen being tortured. Does he imply the RUC did not bother investigating, when RUC members or British troopers were killed by the IRA? Did they jail twenty-five thousand suspected Republicans without really trying?
Mr. Ringland urges “challenging those who want to chain us to the flawed ideologies which led to so much tragedy”. I challenge you Mr. Ringland!
Slan,
Martin Galvin
Posted by Jim on
MIRACLE METS 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONTONIGHT, October 21, at 7:15 PM, FANS for the CURE will host the Miracle Mets 50th Anniversary Celebration at the SVA Theatre, 333 W. 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011. The event will feature “Talking Baseball,” a lively conversation with ‘69 Miracle Mets teammates Cleon Jones, Ed Kranepool, Art Shamsky, and Ron Swoboda, moderated by WFAN Radio Host and FANS for the CURE founder Ed Randall. Special remarks will be delivered by former New York Mets infielder and current Brooklyn Cyclones manager Edgardo Alfonzo. FANS for the CURE is offering a limited amount of free tickets to the UFA. If you are interested in attending, call 212-625-1025 and let them know that you are a NYC Union Firefighter.
Posted by Jim on October 20, 2019
CAPITO HILL. Sunday, October 20, 2019—The Ladies AOH (LAOH) quite rightly stepped forward in the Nation’s capital on Saturday, October 19, to receive recognition and a well-deserved honor.
Members of both the AOH and LAOH had gathered in Washington for meetings and for the National President’s Dinner.
National Secretary, LAOH, Marilyn Madigan had taken the initiative to meet with the Irish National Caucus, along with Karen Keane, Vice President LAOH.
Caucus leaders Barbara Flaherty and Fr. Sean McManus were only too happy to accommodate their request. Barbara Flaherty has been for many years a member of the Washington LAOH, Division 5. The meeting was also attended by Agnes Gowdy, Chairperson of LAOH Freedom For All Ireland; Mary Ann Lubinsky, National Treasurer; and Delores Desch, Freedom For All Ireland, Chair, Albany County, NY.
After the meeting, the Irish American Peace Prize presentations were made to Marilyn Madigan and Agnes Gowdy, along with her husband, Paul. The Prize states it is presented:” For dedication to the founding principle of the Irish National Caucus: Ireland, too, has the right to be One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Fr. Mc Manus explained: “I was just expecting to privately make the presentations to Marilyn, Agnes and Paul. However, AOH National President, Judge James F. McKay III, in a gracious act of solidarity offered to pause the men’s AOH meeting ( of about 70 attendees ) so that the presentations could be witnessed by all.(And one knows not to argue with a Judge!). Judge McKay asked the men to sand as a mark of respect for the Ladies as they entered.”
Marilyn Madigan, from Cleveland, said: “I am humbled and honored to receive this Award. After hearing the news of my selection, the words of Pope Paul VI keep coming to my mind. “If you want peace work for justice” We all need to take a part in working to correct the injustices here in America and in Ireland.”
Agnes and Paul Gowdy, who came from Belfast to Michigan in the 1970s, said:”It is an honor to be recognized by the Irish American Peace Prize. We will humbly accept the award on behalf of all the Irish Americans who are dedicated to the work of one day having a United Ireland.”
Barbara Flaherty, Executive Vice President, Irish National Caucus, said:”I am delighted that two LAOH sisters have been honored.I stand ready to help the LAOH in any way we can from the Capitol Hill office of the Irish National Caucus and I know LAOH Division 5 will, of course, want to help.Pave the way, Ladies.Pave the way.”