Posted by Jim on September 7, 2018
FDNY Gaelic Football Club. Come out and support a great cause. Friday, September 7, 2018 at 7 pm at Gaelic Park.
4000 Corlear Avenue, Bronx, NY (West 240 Street & Broadway). Entertainment by the Narrowbacks). All money raised by the FDNY will be donated to the family of former teammate Terence Lorino, Ladder 51. Terence lost his battle with cancer leaving behind his beloved wife Jackie and his children Nolan (1) and Charlotte (9). Please contact: FF Tommy Enright, Ladder 117 at 347-996-2830; FF Andrew Donoghue, Ladder 36 at 917-923-4178; or FF Kevin Donovan, Squad 61 at 845-987-2837. Tickets may also be purchased atFDNYGAELICFOOTBALL.COM. $10 in advance. $15 at the gate.
Posted by Jim on September 6, 2018
9/11 MEMORIAL CONCERT
The Schiller Institute NYC Chorus will perform a Memorial Concert at St. Anthony’s of Padua, 154 Sullivan St., NY, NY, on September 11, 2018, at 7 pm. The Chorus and Soloists will memorialize with Beethoven, Brahms, and the Spirituals — those who died, those who survived, and those who continue to lose their lives as an effect of 9/11. For more information, please visit www.sinycchorus.com or http://bit.ly/911concert. The Schiller Institute NYC Chorus is honored to extend complimentary tickets to Firefighters and their immediate family members for this event. If interested, please email recordingsecretary@ufanyc.org with your name and number of family members attending so that seats may be reserved for you at the front of the church for the concert.
JOLLY 51 CREW FUNDRAISER
The Jolly 51 Crew Fundraiser will be held Saturday, September 22, 2018 from 1:00 – 5:00 pm at The Boardy Barn, 270 West Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, NY. A $40 donation includes hot dogs and burgers. There will be a cash bar, and Chris Raguso’s father’s band, The Meade Brothers Band, will perform. There will be 50/50 raffles and t-shirts available. All proceeds will go to the families of the Jolly 51 Crew. Donations can be made at www.fdnyfoundation.org. Please email Tim Stevens at tstevens0767@gmail.com or Frank Thomas at fft17@yahoo.com with any questions.
JACK FANNING MEMORIAL FOUNDATION DINNER DANCE
On Friday, October 26, 2018, the Jack Fanning Memorial Foundation: “Angels for Autism” will hold their 15th Annual Dinner-Dance at the North Hills Country Club in Manhasset, New York. The Foundation honors Battalion Chief Jack Fanning’s memory through their commitment to assisting organizations who work with children and adults with autism to live productive lives to the best of their individual ability. For additional information, a Dinner-Dance Sponsor donation form (deadline for submission is Monday, October 1), or if you would like to attend the Dinner-Dance, please contact Eileen Vogel at 516-489-8773 or jffangels@gmail.com.
LET US DO GOOD FUNDRAISER
On Saturday, September 8, 2018, from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm, the Genovese Family will be hosting their 2nd annual BBQ fundraiser in honor of the memory of their son and brother Matthew Genovese at The Redwood Club, 2680 Schurz Ave, Bronx, NY 10465. All proceeds will go to a memorial fund in Matt’s name to support the work of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers (T2T) Foundation. For a donation of $25, guests will be able to partake in a BBQ with one ticket for a complimentary beer or wine. Kids 12 and under are free. In addition to accepting donations, there will be an array of raffled gift baskets, prizes, a 50/50 raffle, music and entertainment. If you are unable to attend the fundraiser, you can show your support by making a donation online at https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/matts-grand-old-pacers. To inquire about cash or check donations, please email MattGT2T@gmail.com.
Posted by Jim on September 5, 2018
The Voice of the Irish in America
FREEDOM for ALL IRELAND BULLETIN
August 2018
A chairde:
FFAI ISSUES UPDATE
A-Retaliatory arrests of NO STONE UNTURNED filmmakers-Trevor Birney, and Barry McCaffrey, whose thrilling documentary film exposed collusion and cover-up in the Loughinisland murders, were arrested in retaliation. Just before the 1994 ceasefire, patrons watching Ireland play Italy in World Cup soccer were marked for death. Six were murdered and others wounded. Items containing DNA, including the getaway car, weapons, and clothing were recovered. A gunman’s wife posted a letter and made an anonymous call to the constabulary naming the murderers. Her voice gave away her identity, since she worked for the RUC. The film title, NO STONE UNTURNED, quoted an RUC member who pledged no stone would be unturned in the search for loyalist killers. It became a term of scorn for families who saw no killers charged, despite massive evidence, because the loyalist criminals were protected as British agents. The families turned to investigative journalists and ombudsman Michael Maguire. The filmmakers found and filmed one of the killers. The AOH FFAI noted “these arrests say it is ‘NO STONE UNTURNED’ when it comes to going after journalists who reveal truths the crown wants kept hidden.” Families also turned to filmmakers about the Ballymurphy Massacre and collusion killings. These arrests send a chilling message that the crown will go after press and filmmakers who embarrass them. The two men were released but documents were seized and the threat of prosecution hangs over them. The pretext for the arrests seems to be that they “stole” items which they explain in the film were sent to them anonymously. The action came weeks after Constabulary Chief
George Hamilton was welcomed to the West Belfast Feile. As Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin comes to Washington, on September 12-14,lawyer Niall Murphy wants the AOH to brief Congressmen to raise this issue.
B- British trash investigations on Ballymurphy Inquest eve-With the Ballymurphy Massacre Inquest set to begin on September 10th, past and current British commanders began rubbishing any legacy investigations of British crown or collusion killings as a “witch-hunt”, “macabre charade” or” legacy scandal”. They are timed to discredit the Ballymurphy families who have waited 47 years for truth and justice. After the first Internment raids, Paratroopers barracked in Ballymurphy came out and opened fire without warning. A Catholic priest, waving a white handkerchief, Fr. Hugh Mullan, nineteen year old Francis Quinn, mother of 8 children, Joan Connolly, were shot dead going to wounded victims. Daniel Teggart, felled by a bullet to the leg, was shot a total of 14 times. Noel Philips was shot dead that first night. Joseph Murphy was wounded, taken into custody and shot a second time inside the barracks before his death. Edward Doherty, John Laverty, Joseph Corr and John McKerr were murdered over the next two days. An eleventh murder victim, Paddy McCarthy, died of a heart attack, when troopers placed an empty gun inside his mouth in mock execution. British Royal Military Police whitewashed troopers making the dead guilty. With the Inquest set to begin September 10th, British Army Commander Nick Carter proclaimed that British Troops in the north had done a “remarkable job”, were “chased by people making vexatious claims” but “that will not happen on his watch.”Former British commander Bramhall wrote that the Britain “must by whatever means put a stop to this “macabre charade.” Colonel Tim Collins, wrote in the first in a series of “STOP THE LEGACY SCANDAL” essays in the BELFAST NEWSLETTER that almost all British crown forces “shootings were within their legal duty.” Why are British Army commanders so worried about the verdicts and findings of their own British courts and judges?
C-DUP will not budge on Irish language act says Foster-Almost 600 days after the collapse of power-sharing, former First Minister Arlene Foster said her DUP party would never accept an Irish language act, which was “non-negotiable”. Foster and the DUP also staged a “Sinn Fein end the boycott” protest in front of Stormont, demanding that nationalists return, while talks on outstanding issues take place. It is unclear how any talks could progress, if main issues are “non-negotiable”. Ironically Foster’s red-lining of an Irish language act follows Sinn Fein removing its redline over Foster as First Minister. The late Martin McGuinness resigned on January 9,2017 over Foster’s refusal to stand aside while her Renewable Heat Initiative(RHI) “money to burn” scandal was under investigation. Foster blames approval of a 500 million pound plan paying a profit to burn fuel, on her advisors. This scandal is under an ongoing public inquiry. In February 2017,Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein said power-sharing with the DUP had been ten years of “deliberate provocation, arrogance and disrespect.” Talks earlier this year ended in a Valentine’s Day breakup after the DUP reneged on a deal for an Irish language act coupled with Ulster Scots and an overriding Respecting Languages Bill.
D- Unionist fury at Limerick Hurlers’ song-Unionists were outraged that Limerick hurlers sang Sean South of Garryowen at Croke Park, while celebrating their All-Ireland victory. They did not watch the match or post-match singing live. Apparently video of the spontaneous celebration was distributed online by Unionist groups, to get complaints. The song, by the Wolfe Tones about the 1957 IRA attack on Brookborough Barracks, includes the lyrics “And the leader was a Limerick man- Sean South of Garryowen”. The incident came weeks after outrage at the Wolfe Tones singing Celtic Symphony at the West Belfast Feile or Festival. Unionists feel entitled to parade and play Orange songs a everywhere in the six counties then dictate that Republican songs not be sung anywhere in Ireland.
FFAI NATIONAL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
In order to do the work of being “the voice of the Irish in America” on FFAI across the country, our national leaders have directed formation of a National FFAI Committee. This committee is tasked with being the major information resource for members and Divisions on FFAI issues. The initial appointments by our National President and officers were made in early August, however since then, I received several other requests and recommendations and we are looking to expand the National Committee in the near future. The initial appointments are:
1-Past National President and Former FFAI Chair Brendan Moore, for overall experience and guidance;
2-Jim McLaughlin- of Virginia whose location allows him to assist anytime we go to Washington, as well as coordinate in the south.
3-Gerry McHale-Philadelphia is a current state FFAI Chair in the key FFAI state of Pennsylvania;
4-Sean O’Dowd in Chicago will be working throughout the Midwest.
5-Malachy McAllister-in New Jersey and overall help with political, publicity and fundraising initiatives.
BALLYMUPHY MASSACRE CALL TO ACTION
The voice of the Irish in America must be heard in support of the Ballymurphy Massacre families and their fight for justice. National Vice-President Danny O’Connell and Secretary Jere Cole will be in Belfast to meet the families and to show AOH support. Carmel Quinn, whose brother John Laverty was murdered by British Paratroops is coming to us to give the AOH an up to the minute report on the inquest. This tour has been expanded to take in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and other locations. We also want show the British that American Congressmen and Senators are watching. During the Ballymurphy Massacre Tour we will be circulating a draft sign -on letter for Congressmen expressing concerns of their constituents and notifying the British they will monitor the evidence and verdict.
REMEMBERING IRISH PATRIOTS WITH PRIDE
Ruan O’Donnell, of Limerick University will give the Hibernian Lecture at Notre Dame: “America and the Irish Revolution 1916-22” on September 21st at 4:30 pm at McKenna Hall. Professor O’Donnell says that our work for FFAI is part of a long history and without America no part of Ireland would be free! It is open to everyone.
James McGlashin will speak at the Robert Emmet Statue, 1700 24th street NW Washington DC on September 30th at 11:30am.
Please contact me at MGALVINESQ@AOL.COM.
Martin Galvin
Posted by Jim on
“This article by Belfast columnist Brian Feeney may be one of his most alarming—and, therefore, a must-read for the Members of Congress and Staff who are concerned about equality, justice, and peace in Northern Ireland
Mr. Feeney declares that the British Government and the DUP have, in effect, discarded and renounced the Good Friday Agreement.
Just for openers, here is one of his chilling assessments:
‘As Britain ignores the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and leaves the European Court of Justice, this Conservative government begins to unravel the network of rights-based provisions in the GFA. It was never envisaged that the final arbiter of human rights and equality here would be the UK Supreme Court. Nationalists looked to the international clout of the EU as a final court of appeal.
Northern nationalists turned their backs on Westminster in last year’s election when the British kicked away these two pillars of the peace process; neutrality, and EU guarantees of rights and equality.’”
Fr. Sean McManus
Polls show final alienation of northern nationalists from the British government
Theresa May struck a deal with the DUP that kept the Conservative Party in power
Brian Feeney. Irish News. Belfast. Wednesday, September 5, 2018
The results of last week’s poll released on Monday are not the first to show the ‘Brexit effect’ on people’s political preferences.
The poll found that if the UK leaves the EU, 52 per cent of people here would vote for a united Ireland. If there was a hard Border the figure goes up to 56 per cent. Of those from a ‘nationalist heritage’, an astonishing 94 per cent would vote for a united Ireland in the event of Brexit.
The findings are in line with other polls taken in the last few months which illustrate that the DUP’s stupidity in blocking an accommodation on the Border, and supporting leaving the customs union, and the single market, has produced the opposite of their political aims. The indications are that a substantial number of Unionists – though far from a majority – would prefer Irish unity to Little England.
More importantly, however, what these polls confirm is the final alienation of northern Nationalists from the British government which has been under way over eight years watching and enduring the consequences of ever closer collaboration with Unionists culminating in the dirty deal May struck with the DUP last year. That deal was merely the inevitable destination of the direction of travel of Conservative governments since 2010. Even before the 2010 election, solely to serve the interests of the Conservative party, David Cameron wilfully abandoned the neutrality on the North’s politics his predecessor John Major had carefully constructed with Peter Brooke from 1990.
Brooke’s statement that Britain had no selfish strategic or economic interest in Ireland, repeated formally in the 1993 Downing Street Declaration, was critical in persuading the IRA to end its campaign. Since 2010 the British government has jettisoned that commitment for selfish political and electoral reasons.
Desperate to get into government at any cost after thirteen years of Labour, Cameron demonstrated his total ignorance of politics here and joined up with the dying UUP. He also fought every seat in the UK except two; north Belfast and Fermanagh/South Tyrone hoping to earn the gratitude of the Unionist candidates there. Having backed the wrong horse, he then cynically swung to the most toxic party in the UK, bar none: the DUP, and granted their every wish in his tussles with the hopeless, hand-wringing, coalition Lib Dems.
He sent a succession of dimwits over here as proconsuls [Secretaries of State] with one simple instruction: give the DUP anything they want. The worst example of this injunction was the abolition of 50/50 recruiting to the police. As a result, last year only 20 per cent of new police recruits were Catholic and 77 per cent Protestant – exactly what the DUP want. Catholic recruits also leave the PSNI in greater numbers than Protestant. Great. A few more years of that and we’ll be back to 90 per cent Protestant and 100 per cent unionist. At the behest of the DUP, dullard proconsuls have blocked movement on legacy, coroners’ inquests, equality of marriage, LGBT rights, and so on.
Cameron, and then this current preposterously ineffectual, beleaguered prime minister [Theresa May] have dismantled brick by brick the crucial elements of the Good Friday Agreement and set aside the pledges built into the Downing Street Declaration without the slightest concern about the damage they are doing. The abandonment of neutrality between the two communities here has destroyed the ability of any British government to participate in a talks process or cooperate meaningfully with the Irish government, a requirement of the GFA mechanisms. Theresa May’s refusal at the recent British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference to meet any Irish minister or to allow a joint press conference with the NIO’s present political nonentity, or even provide a room for Irish ministers to meet the press, showed how deeply in thrall to the DUP she is.
As Britain ignores the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and leaves the European Court of Justice, this Conservative government begins to unravel the network of rights-based provisions in the GFA. It was never envisaged that the final arbiter of human rights and equality here would be the UK Supreme Court. Nationalists looked to the international clout of the EU as a final court of appeal.
Northern nationalists turned their backs on Westminster in last year’s election when the British kicked away these two pillars of the peace process; neutrality, and EU guarantees of rights and equality.
Posted by Jim on
Legacy consultation deadline extended by three weeks to Friday 5th October.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, has announced that the deadline for responses to the consultation on addressing the legacy of the Troubles will be extended by three weeks to Friday 5 October.
The move comes after stakeholders said they needed more time to respond.
The Secretary of State said:
“The legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland is an enormously sensitive and emotive issue, and I want to make sure everyone’s voice is heard as we move forward. I have listened to those who want to take a little bit more time to consider their responses – particularly those individuals who have been most affected by the Troubles, including victims and survivors and former police officers and veterans – and I am happy to extend the deadline so that they can have their say.”
The UK Government launched the consultation, Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s Past, on 11 May to find the best way to meet the needs of victims and survivors and to help people address the impact of the Troubles. in the areas of information, justice and acknowledgement and help Northern Ireland transition to long term-term peace and stability.
The original deadline for responses was 10 September, extended today to 5 October.