Posted by Jim on June 17, 2013
On Friday, June 14, 2013, a first of its kind telephone conference was held to discuss the AOH role in Comprehensive Immigration Reform hosted by US Senator Charles “Chuck” Schumer and AOH National and NYS Immigration Chairman, Dan Dennehy. Senator Schumer explained the lead-up to the current legislation and described its Irish components. Schumer along with a bi-partisan group of US Senators, known as the Gang of 8 is the author of the Senate legislation currently being debated on the US Senate floor.
Thank you to those of you who responded to the conference call. Approximately 50 Hibernians from across NY State and the Nation participated on the call and heard Schumer explain that his efforts to end the near 50 year exclusion of Ireland from fair visas to the US. In the early 1980’s, Schumer was honored by Brooklyn AOH as their Man of the Year, which moved him deeply as a Jewish American. Schumer was told that the removal of quotas from the Irish had adversely affected Irish American communities and our cultural exchange. Near the end of his life, Senator Edward Kennedy, recognizing the mistake made in the 1965 legislation, asked Schumer “to make things right for the Irish in immigration.”
Schumer knew that this situation must be repaired and in his words “What was good for Irish people was good for America!”
Many Hibernians asked questions about the Bill and about those with ongoing immigration case. Senator Schumer provided great insight on the bill and its affect on Irish immigration. For those of you that have sent me individual questions. I will be following up with you personally. Below are the some of the Irish elements of the Bill.
The Senate Bill, S. 744: Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act:
Path to Citizenship for Undocumented: The bill puts 50,000 Irish undocumented on a path to citizenship through a system of a fine, taxes and criminal background checks that will not have them ‘vested’ in Social Security, medical and other programs until 9 years later, when they are eligible to apply for a green card. DURING THE 9 YEAR PERIOD THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR HEALTH CARE AND OTHER SERVICES THEMSELVES. Only after 9 years of investment, may they avail of the benefits available to every US legal naturalized resident. A highlight of the plan is that 180 days after the legislation is signed, they will be allowed to live, work, and travel home to Ireland freely throughout the period of adjustment.
FUTURE FLOW Schumer Visa (AKA Irish E3 Visa): 10,500 annual and renewable 3 year visas for Irish citizens, and their families, to live and work in the US. This will create much needed future flow for Ireland. As a tribute to Senator Schumer’s championing Irish Visa issues, especially during the critical Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, his colleagues have named these visas for him.
Work, Education and Language Requirements: There are many changes and new avenues in Comprehensive Immigration Reform that can provide for a greater number of Irish people, North and South, to apply for visas due to the English language, education and other requirements included.
AOH CALL TO ACTION!!!!
WE MUST ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES, GET ON THE PHONES AND TELL ALL OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION:
“WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION BILL S.744. AS IRISH AMERICANS AND HIBERNIANS WE KNOW THAT IT IS GOOD FOR THE IRISH AND WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE IRISH IS GOOD FOR AMERICA!”
The Coalition of Irish Immigration Reform is composed of representatives from the Embassy of Ireland, AOH (of which I am your delegate), Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform, leading immigration attorneys and lobbyists, and members of the Irish Catholic clergy.
AOH & Community Call to Action on Tuesday, June 18th at 4pm.
You are invited to a Coalition of Irish Immigration Reform Community Call this Tuesday, June 18 at 4.00pm EST.
On this call you will learn how you and fellow Irish Americans can help with the passage of the S.744 Bill and which legislators we need help with!
If you would like to join the call please RSVP @ dandennehy@hotmail.com
I will make sure you get registered for the call and receive dialing instructions.
Upon receiving registration and call dialup instructions please, remember these tips:
Please have you phone on mute during the reports; Following reports we will have a Q&A.
If you are unable to attend the call or want your questions answered:
Please make sure that important AOH immigration comments or questions are addressed please send your queries and comments to me by Noon Tuesday.
The AOH is an organization with many interests in how Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the Schumer Visas can affect USA, Ireland, N. Ireland, Peace Process, our communities, culture, heritage, Church and our Order. Please keep comments and questions to the topics as related to immigration and immigration reform.
Currently we need AOH members to call these Members of Congress
IF YOU ARE IN ANY OF THESE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, PLEASE CONSIDER JOING THE CALL ON TUESDAY.
Alexander(TN), Corker(TN), Collins(ME), Crapo(ID), McCain(AZ), Flake(AZ), Graham(SC), Hatch(UT), Lee(UT), Heller(NV), Kirk(IL), Moran(KS), Murkowski(AL), Risch(ID), Rubio(FL), Ayotte(NH), Blunt(MI), Burr(NC), Chambliss(GA), Donnelly(IN), Coats(IN), Cornyn(TX), Cruz(TX), Isakson(GA), Johnson(WI), McConnell(KY), Portman(OH), Toomey(PA), Thune(SD), Landrieu(LA), Baucus(MN) and Tester(MN)
Yours in Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity,
Dan Dennehy
National Board and NYS Immigration Chairman
Ancient Order Of Hibernians in America Inc
Posted by Jim on June 15, 2013
Oration by Des Dalton, President, Republican Sinn Féin at the grave of Patron Ruairí O Brádaigh, St Coman’s Cemetery, Roscommon.
Speaking at the graveside of O’Donovan Rossa, Pearse restated the
principles which had fired the soul and intellect of O’Donovan Rossa and restated the determination of his generation to take up the torch of freedom from Rossa and his generation: “I propose to you then that, here by the grave of this unrepentant Fenian, we renew our baptismal vows; that, here by the grave of this unconquered and unconquerable man, we ask of God, each one for himself, such unshakable purpose, such high and gallant courage, such unbreakable strength of soul as belonged to O’Donovan Rossa. Deliberately here we avow ourselves, as he avowed himself in the dock, Irishmen of one allegiance only. We of the Irish Volunteers, and you others who are associated with us in to-day’s task and duty, are bound together and must stand together henceforth in brotherly union for the achievement of the freedom of Ireland. And we know only one definition of freedom: it is Tone’s definition, it is
Mitchel’s definition, it is Rossa’s definition. Let no man blaspheme the cause that the dead generations of Ireland served by giving it any other name and definition than their name and their definition.”
For Ruairí Ó Brádaigh there too was but one definition of Irish freedom. For him there was but one straight and true path leading to the All-Ireland Republic of Easter Week. We come here to mourn the loss of Ruairí but we also come to celebrate his long and rich life. It was a life marked by unselfish devotion to the cause of Irish freedom. It was a life set apart by his sense of duty, honour and the intellectual rigour that he brought to the Republican Movement. Indeed often would Ruairí quote these lines from Louisa May Alcott, which are inscribed on the headstone of the tireless champion of Republican prisoners and the working class Charlotte Despard: “I slept, and dreamed that life was beauty; I woke, and found that life was duty.” Coupled with all of this was Ruairí’s deep humanity. He was a man whose empathy and compassion for the downtrodden and oppressed knew no boundaries of race or creed.
In his biography of Ruairí, Professor Robert W. White of Indiana
University, described Ruairí Ó Brádaigh’s life as: “…a window for understanding his generation of Irish Republicans and how they received the values of a previous generation and are transmitting those values to the next generation.” In his introduction to the same book, the journalist Ed Maloney described Ruairí as the “last, or one of the last Irish Republicans”. Whilst the tribute was well intentioned the case is quite different. It is because of the life’s work of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh that he is not the last Republican but has rather ensured the continuity of Irish Republicanism, passing on the torch to succeeding generations.
Ruairí Ó Brádaigh was a towering figure of Irish Republicanism in the latter half of the 20th Century. He came to embody the very essence of the Republican tradition, setting the very highest standards of commitment, duty, honour and loyalty to the cause of Irish freedom. Of a proud Republican heritage inherited from both his father Matt and his mother May, since 1950 he served at every level of the Republican Movement, and from 1956 took on the onerous responsibilities of national leadership with only a short intervals, up to the present day. Ruairí was a man of immense capability both as a politician and as a soldier. He holds the unique distinction of serving as President of Sinn Féin, Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army and from 1957 to 1961 as a TD, representing Longford/Westmeath.
At critical junctures in the history of the Republican Movement, Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, along with his close friend and comrade the late Dáithí Ó Conaill, manned the gap against the forces of reformism who sought to convert a revolutionary movement of national liberation into a mere constitutional political party, first in 1969/70 and once again in 1986.
For Ruairí the essential principles of Irish freedom were clear and
marked the political course to be followed. He dismissed any cult of the personality warning always of the inherent dangers of following merely the man or woman over the cause of Irish national independence. At a time when our sense of identity is being steadily eroded, when our people are discouraged from taking pride in their history or culture Ruairí Ó Brádaigh was a tireless champion of the Irish language viewing it as the cornerstone of our unique identity as a nation. Like Pádraig Mac Piarais he believed in an Ireland that was: ‘not only free but Gaelic as well; not only Gaelic but free as well’.
Gael go smior ab ea Ruairí. Óna chuid ama i gColáiste Mel is i
gConamara, d’éirigh leis an teanga a thabhairt leis go han-líofa. Ar
feadh a shaoil sheas sé go daingean le cúis na Gaeilge agus d’fhéach
chuige go raibh Gaeilge ag an gclann ar fad.
Faraoir, le caoga bliain anuas d’aithin an meath a tháinig ar an teanga go háirithe an cúngú sna Gaeltachtaí is sa chóras oideachais. Tá an Ghaeilge i mbaol go mór mura dtugtar áit lárnach di in Éirinn. Mar atá faoi láthair níl áit do theangacha agus do chultúir ar nós na Gaeilge agus ár gcultúr Gaelach atá ag tachtadh ár muintire. Daoibhse atá in eagraíochtaí Gaeilge is gá daoibh an pictiúr mór seo, mar a deirtear, a aithint. Tá an Ghaeilge i mbaol, tá sí á ceil tar pháistí na tire, tá imeallú mór déanta uirthi.
The Irish Language has always been dear to Ruairí’s heart. He spoke it on every possible occasion and he saw to it that his children were all immersed in it. Unfortunately during the last 50 years the Irish language has been marginalized, neglected and downgraded in every possible way. The people of the Gaeltacht have been bullied by the politically-powerful and by international consumerism. This bullying has undermined their way of life. The neglect in the Education system now means that Irish is being denied to and hidden from 100’s of 1000’s of Irish children.
Who then is responsible for this obliteration of people’s languages and cultures worldwide, including our own Irish? There is no place for own heritage in this neo-liberal agenda, the EU won’t allow it, the two states, even the 26 counties’ Dept of Education, work against the Irish language. ‘Death by a 1000 cuts’ is the effective state policy on Irish whatever niceties may be uttered. To the Irish Language Organisations we say: Be very careful in your dealings with the Northern and Southern states. Stop cosying up to these false promises. They’re only trying to buy you off. 90% plus of the Irish people dearly love our language. They want it passed on propery to our children, they want it central to Irish life not neglected and marginalized. The Irish people need leadership, the Irish language agencies need to give sustained, determined leadership and we as Irish Republicans need to centrally retain our commitment to the Irish language and culture at all times.
As an Irish Republican he believed passionately in Theobald Wolfe Tone’s vision of substituting the denominations of Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter with the common name of Irish man and Irish woman. He played a leading role in formulating the Éire Nua proposals for a Four Province Federal Ireland, which was based on the principles of true decentralisation of decision making with full particatpory democracy involving all sections of the Irish people as trust founders of a New Ireland. Such a democratic template would provide the Unionist minority with a New Ireland with real political power and decision-making. He was
among the Republican leaders who met representatives of loyalism and
unionism as Feakle, Co Clare in 1974 and later strongly supported the
MacBride/Boal talks, which were eventually sabotaged by a 26-County
Government Minister. Such was Ruairí’s commitment to the principles of a
non-sectarian and pluralist Ireland that he and Dáithí Ó Conaill stepped
down from the positions of President and Vice President respectively of
Sinn Féin when Éire Nua was dropped as a policy document to further the
narrow political agenda of a reformist clique operating within the
Republican Movement in the early 1980s.
For Ruairí Ó Brádaigh there could be no temporising on the issue of
British Rule in Ireland. Drawing on the lessons of Irish history he
recognised that it constituted the root cause of conflict and injustice
for the Irish people. In opposing the 1998 Stormont Agreement he rightly
viewed it as a flawed document serving only to copper-fasten British
Rule while also institutionalising sectarianism, thereby further
deepening the sectarian divide. Ruairí Ó Brádaigh’s analysis has since
been bourne out by a number of independent studies which have shown an
increase in sectarianism in the Six Counties in the years since 1998.
The economically and politically oppressed and partitioned Ireland of
today is far removed from the vision of a New Ireland, which inspired
Irish Republicans such as Ruairí Ó Brádaigh.
Standing by Ruairí’s graveside we can only truly honour him by turning
our eyes to the future, by pledging ourselves to once more take up the
fight for a New Ireland. Today our country is being assailed by the twin
imperialisms of British military and political occupation and the
economic and social oppression of the EU/ECB and IMF. These represent
the old and new imperialisms, representing a threat to the very
existence of the historic Irish Nation. In the Six Counties political
repression remains the norm and the very fact that there remain
political prisoners in Maghaberry, the internment without trial of
veteran Republican Martin Corey and until recently of Marian Price, the
presence of an armed Colonial police force using the same methods of
repression, drawing on the same draconian laws to enforce the writ of
the British Government all point to the abnormality of the Six County
State. British Rule in Ireland will never be wither normal or acceptable
and the lesson of Irish history remains as Ruairí continually pointed
out: as along as there is a British military and political presence in
Ireland there will always be a section of the Irish people determined to
resist it. In the 26-County State our people are being robbed of the
very markers of a civilised society, the ability to care for our sick
and old, to educate our young and to provide for those on the economic
margins of society. All of this is being imposed on our people in order
to prop up the undemocratic EU superstate and its baking system.
The Irish people it seems are merely fodder to be sacrificed on the high
alter of EU finance capitalism. But not only are our people plundered
financially but also culturally. It seems that the denizens of Leinster
House, Stormont, Westminster and Brussels are intent on robbing us of
our identity as a separate people and nation. Writing recently in the
Sunday Business Post, Tom McGurk wrote that because the Irish people are
being thought that it is wrong to take pride in our history, of
resistance, our distinct culture and identity, today they are being
denied the very tools of a strong sense of national identity required to
stand up to EU Troika in contrast to people’s across Europe who have
heroically defended themselves and their societies from the grip of the
financial and banking elites. With Thomas Davis we believe: “This
country of ours is no sand bank, thrown up by some recent caprice of
earth. It is an ancient land, honoured in the archives of civilisation.”
The Irish nation is not bound by the artificial borders of the two
partition states, The philosopher Dr Mathew O’Donnell writes that
nations rather than states, which are simply units of political
organisation, bring people together: “For people are not brought
together by a state; the state is the subsequent organisation of people
who already posses some kind of unity…It is with the nation that one’s
loyalty lies. There is no disowning it, no alternative to it. There
should be a feeling for the nation, for it is one’s own people. This is
the origin for the effective element in patriotism.”
In the early 1890s the Irish Revolution began in earnest, speaking in
1892 the founder of Conradh na Gaelige Dubhghlas de Híde spoke of the
need to reverse the process of anglicising Ireland: “When we speak of
‘The Necessity for De-Anglicising the Irish Nation’, we mean it, not as
a protest against imitating what is best in the English people, for that
would be absurd, but rather to show the folly of neglecting what is
Irish, and hastening to adopt, pell-mell, and indiscriminately,
everything that is English, simply because it is English.”
He went to set out why we as a people needed to reconnect with our own
distinct cultural identity if we were to prosper: “I would earnestly
appeal to every one, whether Unionist or Nationalist, who wishes to see
the Irish nation produce its best — surely whatever our politics are we
all wish that — to set his face against this constant running to
England for our books, literature, music, games, fashions, and ideas. I
appeal to every one whatever his politics — for this is no political
matter — to do his best to help the Irish race to develop in future
upon Irish lines, even at the risk of encouraging national aspirations,
because upon Irish lines alone can the Irish race once more become what
it was of yore — one of the most original, artistic, literary, and
charming peoples of Europe.” As the centenary of the 1916 Rising draws
near we have the opportunity once again to awaken the national
consciousness to our possibilities as a people and the high ideals which
have in the past inspired us to greater things and a vision of a New and
better Ireland. As we approach the centenary of the 1916 Rising a battle
has commenced for the hearts and minds of the Irish people.
The legacy as well as the essential message of 1916 is at stake for this
and future generations. The resources of both partitionist states are
being employed in order to sanitise our history to the point that it has
been robbed of any meaning. Equivalence is being made between the forces
of occupation and the independence movement that no self-respecting
nation would contemplate. Does France commemorate the Vichy policemen or
Norway its Quislings who collaborated with German occupation forces? The
1916 Rising for Irish Republicans is not only an important moment in our
history but a beacon to light our way forward. It is an event that not
only continues to occupy a central place in our history but also remains
relevant due to the simple fact that it remains unfinished business.
The 1916 Proclamation sets out clearly the principles upon which the
All-Ireland Republic should rest. It takes no great examination to see
that both the Six and 26-County states fall far short of the definition
of freedom and democracy set by the men and women of 1916. This would
be and remains the abiding message of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh.
In carrying on the work to which Ruairí dedicated his adult life we must
bring to it the same high standards, the same commitment to truth and
honour which guided him. We must never lose sight of the high idealism
of 1916 because it will always speak to us of a New and better Ireland
and with it the possibility of revolutionary social, political and
economic change. and should note well the words of Brian Ó hUiginn:
“Keep close to them on the road they walked without flinching, the road
whose signposts, as Liam Mellows said, are unmistakable, the road of
truth and honour and earnestness and courage, the road of no wavering,
of no compromise with wrong, of no surrender – the only road that leads
to the freedom and happiness of the indivisible Republic of Ireland.”
As we turn from this place we remember with pride our fallen chieftain,
our Fenian Chief (as Desmond Ryan described James Stephens) I think it
is appropriate to conclude with some words penned by John Fisher Murray
To the Memory of Thomas Davis:
“A spark of his celestial fire, The God of freemen struck from thee;
Made thee to spurn each low desire, Nor bend the uncompromising knee;
Made thee to vow thy live to rive with ceaseless tug, th’ oppressor’s
chain with lyre, with pen, with pen, with sword, to strive for thy dear
land – nor strive in vain.
How hapless is our country’s fate – If heaven in pity to us send, Like
thee, one glorious, good and great – to guide, instruct us, and amend:
How soon thy honoured life is o’er – Soon Heaven demandeth thee again;
We grope on darkling as before, And fear lest thou hast died in vain.
In vain – no never! O’er thy grave, Thy spirit dwelleth in the air; Thy passionate love, thy prupose brave, Thy hope assured, thy promise fair. Generous and wise, farerwell! – Forego tears for the glorious dead and gone; His tears if his, still flow for slaves and cowards living on.
To Patsy, Mait, Ruairí Óg, Conor, Deirdre, Ethne and Colm,his
grandchildren and great-grandchild we extend our deepest sympathies and our gratitute to you and the extended Ó Brádaigh family for the life of Ruairí and his unparalled contribution to the cause of a free Ireland.
Ar dheis dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Posted by Jim on June 8, 2013
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After six months detention in Maghaberry jail as a result of his republican beliefs, prominent eirigi activist Stephen Murney calls for the end of internment.
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On 9th August 1971, internment was introduced into the Occupied Six Counties. Family homes were raided; front doors smashed in, men were dragged from their beds and ripped from their homes in front of their hysterical children and fearful wives who knew not where their loved ones were being taken to, why or when they would return.
Many internees were held in captivity for years despite not having been found guilty of any offence. The same practice remains in place today albeit on a smaller but equally unjust scale.
Today it is often said that we live in a better society – ‘a new dispensation – is the oft repeated phrase of those attempting to paper over the cracks. Despite all the supposed ‘changes’, many of the old repressive injustices remain including internment, political policing, Diplock courts and ongoing MI5/British military activity.
Almost forty two years have passed since that August morning in 1971, yet Irish men and women are still being interned at the behest of the British state, arrested by its willing armed forces, including the PSNI, and aided and abetted by their political apologists in Stormont.
Political policing and internment is nothing new. They are practices which have been in place for some decades, practices that we in eirigi have been to fore in highlighting, exposing and opposing.
As a result, those of us who have been most vocal in opposing these unjust activities and our families, have paid a heavy personal price in the form of constant PSNI harassment, frequent ‘stop and searches’, house raids, assaults, threats, intimidation and, ultimately, the loss of liberty.
In late November last year I penned a letter which was published in the local press in Newry. My letter highlighted a number of unacceptable practices in relation to Britain’s police force – the PSNI – something which I had done many times over the years.
The letter described, in detail, dawn PSNI house raids and the traumatic effects they have on families, particularly young children.
Ironically, less than 24 hours after my correspondence was published, the front door of my own family home was smashed in by the PSNI at 6am.
In the very same manner as I had described in my letter, I was torn from my home, family and children and have been interned in Maghaberry Gaol ever since.
Those unfortunate to find themselves interned by remand, despite not being found guilty of anything, can be imprisoned for lengthy periods with no sign of either a date for trial or release.
Political internees can find themselves in gaol for up to 2 years, or more, under this repressive, draconian policy, awaiting a trial that may never come and facing a case that will likely collapse, as we have borne witness to countless times before.
Despite the continued practice of political internment there seems to be little or no public opposition regarding its use when contrasted to the widespread public outcry witnessed in previous decades. No mass public demonstrations but rather low key protests and pickets organised only by those close to those imprisoned.
Perhaps one reason for the lack of public opposition to internment could be that rather than employing the levels of mass internment witnessed in the early 1970s, we now experience what can be described as ‘selective internment’, whereby relatively small numbers of people – considered as opponents to the established parties – are targeted for imprisonment.
Among those currently interned include those who, using their democratic right, vocally, publicly, politically and peacefully oppose the ongoing British occupation and its puppet administration at Stormont.
This suggests that the use of ‘selective internment’ is designed to target the few in order to intimidate the many from standing up, speaking out and organising a radical opposition to the Stormont regime.
Could what we are witnessing be described as an ‘acceptable level of injustice’?
Where people are too afraid to speak out in case they too find themselves within the sights of the PSNI, British Army and MI5?
Internment was wrong and unjust in previous years and it remains as equally wrong and unjust today.
I would encourage all those that disagree with its continued use to organise and publicly oppose internment in its current form.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Posted by Jim on June 7, 2013
by Niall O’Dowd
The inaugural Irish Sports 50 awards presented by Irish Voice newspaper were held on Thursday night in Manhattan at the beautiful surrounds of the American Irish Historical Society on Fifth Avenue and were an outstanding success.
They came from California, Dallas and Ireland. Sports and business figures from all the major U.S sports were present to hear keynote speaker Tim Brosnan, Executive Vice President of Major League Baseball, describe the Irish journey to success in sports as an example for every immigrant community.
Brosnan pointed out that our forefathers came with nothing and that sport was one of the first arenas in America where Irish were welcome.
At a time when “No Irish Need Apply” signs were still being hung out the Irish were making it in baseball and other sports he pointed out.
Other ethnic groups would follow the same path and African Americans would eventually break the barrier too.
Sports were one of the first places that Irish were accepted he said. It was an invaluable lesson for other groups who faced discrimination too.
Now, Brosnan pointed out, sports is open to all “If you have the skill you can play it doesn’t matter where you came from.”
It is true. The first thing the child of immigrants will do,whether Irish or these days Hispanic, is grab a bat or a ball and try to compete on the only truly level playing field around — sports.
We take it for granted these days that sports is the great melting pot of American society but as the Jackie Robinson biopic this Spring showed clearly it was a hell of a battle to get there.
Deputy Consul of Ireland Peter Ryan talked about the healing power of sport when it came to the fallout from Hurricane Sandy in the Rockaways.
Some of Ireland’s top athletes, members of the Gaelic Players Association came on their own time to America and rebuilt the sports gymnasium at Breezy Point that had been ruined by the storm. 1,500 members of the Irish community had lent their skills all over the different Rockaway neighborhoods.
GPA Chairman Dessie Farrell talked about the extraordinary response to their gesture including coverage on NBC Nightly News and many other organizations stepping forward to help. This weekend the GPA will conduct a Gaelic sports 7 a side tournament in Breezy Point to aid local charities.
I spoke about being present at the greatest Irish American sports event I have seen, the Notre Dame game against Navy in Dublin last year when 25,000 Irish fans made the haj across the Atlantic to their ancestral home.
The goodwill engendered between Ireland and America on that trip alone speaks volumes for the power of sport.
The first-ever Irish American Sports 50 was put together by Irish Voice editor Debbie McGoldrick and business manager John Dillon. Judging by the success it won’t be the last!
Posted by admin on June 1, 2013
Unabated police harassment of republican activists last week has increased the controversy over the PSNI’s abuse of ‘stop and search’
legislation.
Earlier this month, a court ruled that the use of detentions against a former IRA hunger striker, Bernard Fox, and Derry man Marvin Canning, a brother-in-law of Martin McGuinness, was unlawful.
The ruling forced the Westminster parliament to rush a new ‘code of practice’ into law. However, the PSNI’s recent actions appear to be in flagrant violation of the new regulations.
Lawyers for Mr Canning revealed he was stopped again just hours after the hearing, as he made his way to a wake.
A prominent county Derry republican, Declan McGlinchey, and his two children, aged seven and nine, were the victims of one such incident as he drove them home from school in Bellaghy this week.
All three were taken from the car as the vehicle was ‘searched’.
“I asked them what the reasonable grounds were for stopping me,” he said.
“They said they didn’t have to answer me.
“I had to get the two children out of the vehicle for them to search it and my seven-year-old son was crying.
“He hasn’t been back at school since.”
Mr McGlinchey’s lawyer Paul Pierce said: “We have now written to the chief constable asking him to confirm the details of these stop and search detentions and how the police have formed a ‘reasonable suspicion’ about someone bringing their children from school or going to a wake.”
Also this week, another prominent republican, Colin Duffy, was arrested and interrogated before being released without charge. A serial miscarriage of justice victim and an infamous target of police harassment, the Lurgan man was interned in Maghaberry for two years in a malicious PSNI prosecution before being released last year.
In Belfast, dozens of eirigi supporters who had gathered on the Falls Road to show solidarity for another interned republican, Stephen Murney, were targeted for an aggressive ‘stop and search’ operation Saturday of last week.
As some activists left to attend a republican commemoration in the North Belfast area, a PSNI vehicle followed the activists’ vehicle before forcing it to stop and pull over.
The vehicle’s contents were emptied onto the roadside and the occupants were subjected to body searches and questions about their movements and destination.
Activists were spread-eagled by the PSNI as they were searched under both ‘section 21’ and ‘section 24’ of the ‘Justice and Security Act’.
“It was clear that the intended stop and search was nothing more than an attempt to harass and delay those present,” eirigi said.
“That fact became quite obvious as the PSNI searched only the boot of the car but nowhere else. They didn’t open a single car door or even look inside – all of which indicates a complete lack of genuine concern regarding the vehicle and its occupants.”
Significantly, the harassment ended abruptly when a passing legal professional took an interest in events.
Also this week, the PSNI blamed ‘dissident’ republicans for two ‘improvised grenades’ which were thrown toward a passing patrol in the loyalist Ballysillan area of Belfast on Monday. Both devices exploded, but there were no injuries.