Posted by Jim on August 13, 2018
Unionists need to prepare for a united Ireland – priest
“They would be on an equal basis – the Protestant idea of supremacy would be gone. That’s what’s holding normal relationships back.”
Colm Fitzpatrick . Irish Catholic. Dublin. Thursday, August 2, 2018
Unionists need to take their “heads out of the sand” and accept that a soon-to-be Catholic majority in the North of Ireland will pave the way for a reunification of the island, a prominent Irish priest has said.
Fermanagh priest and well-known civil rights activist, Fr Joe McVeigh, said that in accordance with recent census figures, Catholics will outnumber Protestants in the North by 2021, which should compel unionists to “face up to the changing realities” of the region.
Possibility
His comments come after the former DUP leader, Peter Robinson, suggested last week that preparations should be made for the possibility of a united Ireland.
Speaking at the MacGill Summer in Co. Donegal on July 27, Mr Robinson said that although he doesn’t expect the North would want to leave the UK, he would accept the result of a border poll if it led to a reunification between the North and South.
“I don’t expect my own house to burn down but I still insure it because it could happen,” he said.
In response, Fr McVeigh commended the former politician’s remarks and said that he welcomes any input from unionists into the discussion about the future of Ireland, especially following the impact that Brexit will have on the country.
“It’s very important that unionists face up to the changing realities here in the North and I’m glad that someone of his standing has done this. And of course, some unionists will not like to hear this as they’ve expressed already, but it has begun. It’s not going to stop. It’s not going to end. It must continue,” Fr McVeigh told The Irish Catholic.
Reunification
He added that there may be some initial “tension” between Catholics and Protestants following a reunification, but that in the long-term, it could pave the way for “normal political relationships”.
“Even if the British were taken out of the equation, there could be normal relationships. They would be on an equal basis – the Protestant idea of supremacy would be gone. That’s what’s holding normal relationships back.”
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“LET US DO GOOD” FUNDRAISER
On Saturday, September 8, 2018, from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM, the Genovese Family will be hosting their 2 nd 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.
PLAQUE DEDICATION
Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at 1100 hours, a Plaque Dedication will be held honoring the memory of Marine Engineer Robert W. Alexander, M-1, who died on August 14, 2017. The dedication will take place in the quarters of Marine 1, North River and Bloomfield Street, New York, NY. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform.
SECOND ANNUAL WHAT WOULD JIMMY DO GOLF OUTING
The Second Annual What Would Jimmy Do? Golf Outing will be held Wednesday, August 15, 2018, from 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Pelham Bay Golf Course, 870 Shore Road, Bronx, NY 10464. Golf will be a scramble format (best ball) with prizes for first and second place. Online registration can be found HERE (https://tinyurl.com/yctynm7l). $150 a man includes Golf, Lunch/Dinner and Golf Shirt. $100 hole sponsorships – please include signage info with check. For more information, please call Kirk at 917-468-5123 or email whatwouldjimmydo@yahoo.com.
FDNY vs. NYPD BASEBALL
The 19th Annual Heroes Baseball Classic will be held Friday, August 17, 2018, at 7:00 PM at MCU Park, Coney Island. Tickets are $10 each online at fdnybaseball.com or $15 at the gate.
MEMORIAL MASS
On Saturday, August 18, 2018 at 1000 hours, E-24/L-5/B-2 will have a Memorial Mass honoring the memory of Lt. Joseph P. Graffagnino, L-5 and FF Robert Beddia, E-24, who made the supreme sacrifice on August 18, 2007. During the mass, officers and members will also honor the memory of Lt. John A. Garcia, L-5. The mass will take place at St. Anthony’s Church located at Sullivan and West Houston Streets, Manhattan. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform.
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Posted by Jim on August 12, 2018
The Gaelic Athletics Association (GAA) marked the weekend’s centenary of
‘Gaelic Sunday’ with commemorative events at clubs across Ireland and
abroad and a special colour parade at Croke Park.
Gaelic Sunday was a seminal moment in the history of the GAA when clubs
were galvanised in a defiant and peaceful protest against a clampdown
and disruption of Gaelic games activity by British authorities.
In 1918 the British were intent on suppressing Irish nationalism and its
opposition to conscription for their military adventures. They saw the
rising popularity of Gaelic Games as a contributing factor to that.
Several flashpoints had occurred in the summer of that year and came to
a head after an Ulster football semi-final between Cavan and Armagh was
forcibly disrupted in Cootehill, Cavan on 7 July.
The response was an order from the head of the GAA of the time, Luke
O’Toole, for every club and parish to hold a GAA activity at 3pm on
Sunday, August 4, 1918.
As a result, some 50,000 people played in more than 1,000 matches
involving hurling, football and camogie and were watched by an estimated
crowd of more than 100,000 people.
The success of Gaelic Sunday helped ensure the threat to the playing of
Gaelic games was lifted.
GAA Clubs in the US, the Middle East and Britain held events last
weekend under the banner of the Gaelic Sunday anniversary.
There were re-enactment matches between clubs who played this weekend in
1918 such as Edenderry and Rhode in Offaly. History talks, parades,
family days and blitzes were held among clubs in all four provinces.
GAA President John Horan said: “Gaelic Sunday was a crucial moment in
the early history of the GAA and cemented the importance of clubs in
their community.
“The legacy created is the vibrant Association that we have today where
clubs continue to be the focal point of their local communities and
people continue to be inspired to celebrate and play our native games.
“One hundred years on we honour the courage of the men and women who
stood up for the right to play and support the GAA.”
Posted by Jim on August 11, 2018
Sinn Fein party leader Mary Lou McDonald has insisted that she is ready
for a border poll and wants a debate on Irish reunification, including
the possibility of rejoining the British Commonwealth.
The Six County statelet was planned in 1921 to create a unionist
majority against the wishes of the nationalist majority on the island as
a whole. However, unionist numbers have declined sharply over the
decades. Since the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998, allowing
the possibility of a future vote within the north of Ireland on
reunification, Sinn Fein has directed its efforts to winning a Six
County ‘border poll’.
In her latest comments on the issue, Ms McDonald said the Dublin
government needs to take the lead in the debate about a united Ireland
and start making plans about how it might be achieved.
“I am firmly of the view that we are now on the way to a unity
referendum. I think the genie is out of the bottle. I think the
discussion around a new Ireland, how we might get there, and what it
might look like is already underway,” she said.
She denied that she had recently argued against holding an immediate
border poll, but added that “we need space”.
“Brexit is a very bad thing for Ireland”, she told the Journal. “For us
to have a debate around the new Ireland and to have a referendum poll,
obviously a chaotic Brexit is not the ideal music for that to happen”.
She added: “I am an Irish republican, I am the leader of Sinn Fein, I
want us to achieve Irish unity and I want us to do it as soon as we can
and I know for that to happen we need space and the best atmosphere we
can have in which to have that debate.”
She wanted to encourage unionists to participate in a discussion about a
united Ireland, but could not “censor the idea” of rejoining the British
Commonwealth before the debate has begun. The idea of Ireland rejoining
the Commonwealth has been floated on previous occasions.
“There are some people who think that rejoining the Commonwealth is a
worthy proposition,” she said. “I think those that hold that view need
to put that view forward, and I think it needs to be looked at, and
debated, and it needs to be discussed.” However, she added that it was
not her position.
She said that if the Tories insist on crashing out of Europe, and take
the north of Ireland out of the European Union “in a chaotic manner”,
then the next question to be asked is “the Constitutional one”.
“The Constitutional question [of a border poll on a united Ireland]
would have to be put – there is no way the Tories could inflict that
level of disorder, of uncertainty, and damage on the island of Ireland
and imagine that they are not going to put the Constitutional question.
“But it does not represent the optimal atmosphere in which to have the
discussion and debate, so that was the point I was making,” said the
Dublin Central TD.
Her comments come after the former leader of the DUP Peter Robinson said
he believed unionists should prepare for the possibility of Irish unity.
Although he said he did not believe a border poll would be successful, he
admitted the “battle for the union.. is raging”.
He was bitterly opposed by former colleagues, particularly DUP MP Sammy
Wilson, who said the comments were “dangerous” and “adding to the Sinn
Fein narrative”.
Ms McDonald said it is important that unionism “finds its space, finds
its voice and follows the advice of Peter Robinson and takes its head
out of the sand”.
Meanwhile, speaking at a panel debate before a mainly nationalist
audience at the West Belfast Festival last week, former leader of the
Ulster Unionist Party Mike Nesbitt notably rejected the idea that a
simple majority in a border poll would not be enough to reunite with the
rest of Ireland.
“It can’t be anything other than 50% plus one – that’s democracy,” he
admitted.
He added that, in terms of the Dublin parliament, unionists could find
themselves “perpetual king-makers” in a united Ireland and joked to the
audience: “So be careful what you wish for.”
He went on to tell a story about a frog being placed in cold water which
was slowly heated up, which caused it to die, because it did not sense
the change.
“The atmosphere and environment around this country, between these
islands and Europe, everything has changed. Unionism needs to wake up,
otherwise it’s going to be that frog.”
Posted by Jim on
A new border zone is being set up by the British government in which
military and customs officials would have additional powers to stop,
search and interrogate members of the public within a mile-wide strip
across Ireland.
The powers are contained in a new “Counter-Terrorism and Border
Security” Bill which is currently passing through the Westminster
parliament in London.
If the bill becomes law, any member of the public could be detained and
searched to establish if they are entering or leaving British
jurisdiction, and their purpose in doing so, regardless of citizenship.
The new proposals have already passed committee stage at Westminster and
the law could be in place by Christmas, well before Britain is scheduled
to leave the European Union.
Under the proposed legislation an “examining officer” may question a
person to determine if they are engaged in “hostile activity”, defined
to include anything which could be contrary to Britain’s “economic
well-being”.
The new powers will also be applied at Newry train station, where
passengers may be searched after they have crossed the border, as well
as in some built-up areas of Strabane and Derry.
The new legislation is to facilitate the new police-like Border Force,
which will be deployed by early 2019. The existing PSNI relies on
anti-terrorist legislation to stop members of the public.
Separately, the bill also appears set to introduce a blanket ban on
images of IRA and loyalist paramilitary merchandise.
Human rights groups have raised concerns about the bill becoming law.
Director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice, Brian
Gormally said: “Will we see a kind of militarised zone along the border,
where roving patrols can stop and question any person, resident or
traveller, without any kind of justification?
“We hope not, but in this piece of legislation such a scenario is
expressly provided for.”
Paul O’Connor from the Pat Finucane Centre said the proposed new powers
could lead to confrontation.
“The proposal that the PSNI or UK border patrols would be randomly
roaming the border stopping individuals without due cause is a recipe
for disaster and confrontation and would likely lead to mass civil
disobedience,” he said.
SDLP Brexit Spokesperson Claire Hanna said that proposals would be
“grotesque assault on border life” and the Good Friday Agreement.
“It is an affront to the peace Agreement that Theresa May would allow
any hardening of the border, let alone providing for ‘stop and search’
zones,” she said.
“As the months go by and the Government becomes increasingly closer to
crashing out of the European Union, people here are again those most
likely to be the casualties of their incompetence.”
Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill accused the British government of duplicity
and ‘clearly preparing for a hard border in Ireland’.
“The use of stop and search powers is already a cause of massive concern
in nationalist areas and if powers as wide-ranging as these were
introduced, it would be disastrous,” she said.
“It runs counter to human rights provisions. It runs counter to the Good
Friday Agreement and the principles of the European Common Travel Area.
I will be taking this up directly with both governments because it is
clear that, through this legislation, London is preparing for the
imposition of a hard border in Ireland.
“That is in direct contravention to the assurances they gave to the
European Union last December. It is sheer duplicity and the Irish
Government and the EU 27 cannot allow them to renege on those
guarantees.
“We warned at the time that British government promises could not be
trusted and legally-binding guarantees were required. Clearly that is
the case given their duplicity in this issue.
“The Brexit negotiations are reaching a crucial stage and Dublin and
Brussels must ensure that there will be no hardening of the border in
Ireland.”