Bobby was on hunger strike for 66 days. He was only 27 years old when he died. Let us take a minute to remember our friend Roibeard Gearoid O’ Seachnasigh – Bobby Sands. Ni bheidh do leithidariamh ann arist – there will never be the like of you again!!

Maggie Thatcher instituted Internment and many men were sent on remand to the Crumlin Road Goal (jail). Dan and I visited the Crum with a former prisoner who was a guest there courtesy of Maggie. Gerard told us of the harsh conditions and treatment during his two and a half years there without being charged. When he finally was brought before a diplock court – a British judge and no jury – he was sentenced to seven years in Long Kesh.

Upon my return to the States, Maggie Thatcher died. Graffiti on the Peace Wall on the Falls Road said it best: “Iron Lady? RUST in peace”. I can only imagine Maggie reaching the Gates of Heaven and being greeted by Saint Peter and Saint Patrick. When Maggie tried to pass through the pearly gates, they reminded Maggie of all of the things that she had a hand in, in Northern Ireland:
• The Para unit she sent to Belfast in 1971t that resulted in the Ballymurphy Massacre
• The Para unit she sent to Derry in 1972 that resulted in 14 innocent people being shot dead on Bloody Sunday – it took 39 long years for the families to finally get vindication. The British government apologized and admitted the people killed that day were innocent.
• Internment……..prisoners held on remand…….diplock courts with no jury’s….
• Broken promises and agreements with Brendan Hugh’s and the first Hunger Strike in 1980
• 1981 – The deaths on Hunger Strike of Bobby Sands and the 9 brave men who followed
• 1989 – The death of Pat Finucane who was shot 14 times will eating dinner at home with his wife (who was also wounded) and his three children

With that said, Saints Peter & Patrick did not let Maggie pass through the gates of Heaven and sent her to the H Blocks of Hell.

In Bobby’s own words, “Our revenge will be the laughter of our children”.

I bhfad ar shiul From afar
Deanann soilse na Ceise The lights of Long Kesh
Breacadh breagach Make a false dawn
I speir no hoiche. In the night sky.
Thar an Cheis Fhada But over Long Kesh
Ni gealtar aon la No dawn brightens
Choiche. Ever.

In 2014, the International Center for Conflict Resolution will open on the site of the former Long Kesh Prison. Part of the Center will allow the Republicans and the Loyalists to tell their story and share their experiences. The Troubles in Northern Ireland was the longest occupation by British troops in the history of the British Empire. The Conflict Center will show the world that given the chance to sit down and negotiate, complex situations can be resolved. The plans will include one of the Quonset hut “Cages” from The University of freedom”, one of the H Blocks and the Hospital Center where the 10 Hunger Strikers died.

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Event Speakers & Experts

Senator George Mitchell

Senator George Mitchell has had a long and distinguished career. He served for several years as Chairman of DLA Piper and is now Chairman Emeritus. Before that he served as the United States Attorney for Maine; as a United States District Court Judge; as a United States Senator for fifteen years, including six years as Senate Majority Leader; for six consecutive years he was voted “the most respected member of the Senate” by a bipartisan group of senior congressional aides; after retiring from the Senate he served as Chairman of peace negotiations in Northern Ireland which resulted in an agreement that ended an historic conflict; and most recently from 2009 to 2011 as U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East. He led the investigations of the use of performance drugs in Major League Baseball; and of allegations of corruption in the selection of sites for the Olympic Games. He also served as the Chairman of the Board of The Walt Disney Company and as a director of several companies including Federal Express, Xerox and Staples. In 2008 Time Magazine described him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson is one of the founder members of Relatives for Justice (RFJ) and is the organization’s current Director. Under Mark’s tenure RFJ has emerged as a respected and leading NGO supporting victims and survivors of the conflict in Ireland addressing legacy and promoting human rights. Mark has been a leading advocate in the truth, justice and legacy debate first making the case for transitional justice in 1994 as part of the emerging peace process. Mark has addressed numerous international forums, symposiums, and led delegations advocating on human rights and transitional justice to mainland Europe and the US. Mark has addressed and given evidence to parliamentarians across Ireland, Britain and Europe tasked with examining human rights violations and the need for truth and justice. He has also presented evidence to the UN in Geneva and worked closely with international NGO’s such as Amnesty International. Mark has also testified before the US Congress and provides regular briefings to members of the US Senate and Congress concerning justice, rights & equality, and policing as part of the peace process. In 2009 Mark was appointed to the Victims & Survivors Forum for a 2-year period advising the Commission for Victims & Survivors, and the devolved government, on the needs of the bereaved and injured of the conflict. Mark also sat on the NI Human Rights Commission Working Group on Victims and is a member of the cross-community group Healing Through Remembering (HTR), working on initiatives aimed at dealing with the legacy of the past. Prior to becoming the Director of RFJ Mark worked on international solidarity and aid projects. He was also a Company Director in a family run business. Mark has volunteered on numerous community-based projects within West Belfast where he is from. Mark is one of the Directors of Relatives for Justice USA (RFJ-USA) a US registered not for profit organisation supporting and promoting the work of RFJ in Ireland. Mark is married with five children.

Congressman Joe Crowley

A native of Woodside, Queens and lifelong New Yorker, Joe has served the people of the Bronx and Queens in Congress since 1998. Before being elected to Congress, Joe received a bachelor’s degree from Queens College, ran a successful small business for nearly a decade and represented the 30th Assembly District in the New York State legislature. Throughout his career in public service, Joe has been driven by a desire to protect New York’s middle class. As Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, the fifth-highest ranking position in House Democratic Leadership, Joe’s efforts in Congress are focused on building strong communities, creating jobs, increasing access to health care and housing, protecting seniors’ hard-earned benefits, and opening up educational opportunities for working families. His seat on the prestigious Committee on Ways and Means allows Joe to work directly on issues of importance to the residents of the 14th District – keeping Medicare and Social Security strong, improving health care for all Americans and creating a fair and equitable tax code for American families and small businesses. Joe is dedicated to making the Bronx-Queens community more prosperous and secure. He established the Crime Stoppers program in 2002 to support local organizations that are working to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods, and it has delivered more than $1 million in federal funding to the Bronx-Queens community for graffiti clean-up, after-school programming, and civic patrol efforts. He is focused on further strengthening and expanding urban hospitals and specialty health centers, such as the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Westchester Square. These are not only world-class medical facilities, but large and reputable employers in the area. Joe is also firmly committed to preparing all young Americans for work in the 21st century by advocating for public education, championing increased federal support for Head Start and other pre-kindergarten programs and fighting to maintain critical financial aid, such as Pell Grants, so more students can afford a college education. The 14th Congressional District is one of the most diverse areas in the country. Through his work with a range of local organizations, Joe has enriched his understanding of international affairs and become a leading voice in efforts to promote democracy and human rights around the world. He successfully introduced and passed legislation to honor Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi with the Congressional Gold Medal for her tireless efforts to bring peace and democracy to Burma. He has also fought for women’s rights both in the U.S. and overseas by introducing and spearheading the passage of the Girls Protection Act, legislation that prohibits the transport of minors abroad for the purpose of female genital mutilation. Like most New Yorkers, Joe’s life was profoundly changed on September 11, 2001. Tragically, his cousin, Fire Department Battalion Chief John Moran, was among the brave first responders who died that day in World Trade Center Tower 2. To make sure we never forget the sacrifices made that day, Joe spearheaded an initiative to honor the first responders who lost their lives trying to help their fellow New Yorkers with a Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor. And, to ensure that New York and the nation are better prepared for future threats, Joe led efforts to create the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) which targets homeland security funding to at-risk urban centers, such as New York City. To date, New York City has received over $950 million in funding to make our airports, train stations and ports safer and more secure. Joe was also instrumental in passing the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act to provide 9/11 first responders and workers with health monitoring and care. Both local and national media have recognized Joe for his effective and impressive record of leadership in Congress. In 2010, National Journal magazine named Joe “a rising star” in the Democratic Caucus and The New York Times has noted that his peers consider him to be a “hard working representative” who is “an impassioned advocate for his district.” Joe has been married to his wife, Kasey Crowley, for over a decade and they have three young children.

Congressman Richard Neal

Richie Neal has been a leader in the effort to bring peace and reconciliation to the island of Ireland for more than three decades. His prominent role in the peace process has been acknowledged by Bill and Hillary Clinton, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Irish President Mary McAleese, Nobel Peace Prize John Hume and Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, among others. He has been honored by numerous organizations including the Ancient Order of the Hibernians and the American Ireland Fund. Irish American magazine has consistently included him on their Top 100 list. And Senator George Mitchell, the independent chairman of the peace talks in Belfast, has said he took great risks for peace for the role he played to help bring the Troubles to an end.

The signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, and the implementation of a devolved power sharing government in Belfast lead jointly by Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson, is an American foreign policy achievement that was unimaginable just a decade ago. But the Northern Ireland is now viewed as a model for successful conflict resolution around the globe. From Middle East to Sri Lanka, other societies in dispute now look to the political leaders on that island to learn the lessons of peace making ending armed confrontation. And as a member of the United States House of Representatives, Richie Neal played an indispensible role in making that historic transformation possible.

His interest in Northern Ireland began when he was a Springfield City Councilor in the early 1980′s. Outraged by what he reading and learning about, he strongly criticized the British government for its harsh treatment of Irish republican prisoners being held in Long Kesh prison outside of Belfast. They were opposing a policy that classified them as criminals and were demanding to be treated as political prisoners. The British refused to make that concession, and ten young men, including their leader Bobby Sands, died from starvation. A decade later, he would refuse to attend a speech by Queen Elizabeth II before a joint session of Congress. His based his decision on the death of the hunger strikers, and the continued presence of the British military in the north of Ireland.

Richie Neal was instrumental in the effort to convince President Clinton to grant Gerry Adams a visa to travel the United States, an event now recognized as a turning point in the peace process. It should surprise no one in this room that one of the first places the Sinn Fein leader visited when he arrived was Congress Neal’s hometown of Springfield. When the IRA declared a ceasefire short time later, Richie Neal was in Belfast the next day meeting with political leaders discussing ways to move the peace process forward.

For years he has been an advocate for the Bloody Sunday families and relatives, he has called for public inquiries into the murders Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson and Raymond McCord. He has been vindicated when the convictions were overturned in cases like the Birmingham Six and the Guilford Four. And he continues to challenge the British government on charges of collusion to this day.

During the 1990′s, he travelled to Belfast frequently to meet with Senator George Mitchell who was brokering the peace talks in Stormont Castle. He met with all parties and strongly encouraged them to end the longest standing political dispute in the history of the western world. He also met with the leaders of the paramilitary organizations, including the Irish Republican Army and urged them to completely and verifiably decommission their weapons. When the IRA put their arms beyond use in 2005, the two independent witnesses travelled to Springfield to brief Congressman Neal’s constituents on the process.

Throughout the peace process, he has witnessed many extraordinary moments that were simply unthinkable when the Troubles began: the Rev. Ian Paisley shaking Prime Minister Bertie Ahern’s hand in Dublin and calling himself Irish; Martin McGuinness shaking hands in public with Peter Robinson, Gerry Adams attending the funeral of former adversary David Ervine; and Queen Elizabeth visiting Ireland on a state visit where she placed a wreath at the national memorial dedicated to those who died fighting against the British Empire. These transformative moments would not have been possible without the help of the United States of America, the many Irish Americans gathered in this room, and Congressman Richard Neal.

More recently, Congressman Neal has lobbied the Obama administration on behalf of the Boston College Oral History Archive on the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He has urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Attorney General Eric Holder to reject efforts by the British government obtain confidential documents and recordings of former paramilitary members. He strongly believes the release of these sensitive and confidential documents has the potential of destabilizing then peace process.

An outspoken supporter of a United Ireland, an individual who traces his roots to County Down and County Kerry, the leading Democrat in the United States Congress serving on the Friends of ireland Committee.

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There were plenty of volunteers but only seven were selected to match the number of men who signed the Easter 1916 Proclamation of the Republic.  In December, the Brits conceded and said they sent a proposal to Stormont; the strike ended after 53 days.  By January it was clear that the demands would not be met.  On February 4, the prisoners declared yet another hunger strike.  This one began on March 1, 1981 – the fifth anniversary of the withdrawal of political status.  It was led by former commanding officer Bobby Sands.

It should be noted that starvation is not an easy end.  By the time death comes, starving people are blind, deaf, speechless, and in a coma.  Throughout the horrid ordeal, their limbs are bloated and their abdomens swollen.  Their hair falls out, their gums ulcerate, their tongue is swollen and their teeth loosen.  They suffer dehydration from bouts of nausea and diarrhea; whatever the temperature, they shiver with cold; their skin is shriveled and scaly and they are as dry as old  parchment, no longer able to muster enough fluid to even cry.  The agony is staggering to imagine.

Fully aware of the consequences, other prisoners joined one at a time at staggered intervals, to arouse maximum public support to pressure PM Thatcher.  A sympathetic public even elected Bobby Sands to the British Parliament during the strike, prompting media interest from around the world.  Tomas O’Fiaich, Archbishop of Armagh,  visited the prison and condemned conditions there.  After two more prisoners were elected to office, the Brits rushed through an Act preventing prisoners from running in elections.

But neither public pressure, the value of Irish life nor the cause of patriots refusing to be labeled criminals swayed the Iron Maiden from her stubborn refusal to grant the simplest of concessions.  32 years ago on May 5, Bobby Sands was first to die.  Then one by one nine more young men starved to death rather than criminalize Ireland’s fight for freedom.  Sands’ funeral was attended by more than 100,000 people; it wasn’t just about wearing jeans.

The strike was called off on October 3.  Three days later the prisoners were allowed the right to wear their own clothes and one by one all the demands were met, but to save face, the Brits refused to officially recognize the men as political prisoners.  Thirteen other strikers who had been saved by the ending of the hunger strike, still suffer to this day from the effects of their ordeal, with digestive, visual, physical and neurological disabilities.

In the final analysis, the Brits paid the price of having world pressure focused on what, until then, had merely been an internal struggle that they had been able to conceal from the world.  Ireland’s 10 new martyrs had made their cause a world issue and their sacrifice was verified for it paved the way for Sinn Fein’s entry into the political arena and the subsequent Peace that followed.

They were our bravest and best which is why they had to die, for because of them the cause of a united Ireland is sacred.  As we prayerfully remember with love and pride the names of the martyrs of 1916, let us also remember the names of:

Bobby Sands (age 27), died 5 May after 66 days; Francis Hughes (age 25) died 12 May after 59 days; Patsy O’Hara (age 23) died 21 May after 61 days; Ray McCreesh (age 24) died 21 May after 61 days; Joe McDonnell (age 29) died 8 July after 61 days; Martin Hurson (age 24) died 13 July after 46 days; Kevin Lynch (age 25) died 1 August after 71 days; Kieran Doherty (age 25) died 2 August after 73 days; Thomas McElwee (age 23) died 8 August after 62 days and Mickey Devine (age 27) died 20 August after 60 days.  They sleep with the patriots.

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Maud’s father died in 1886 leaving her financially independent.  She moved back to France after a tubercular hemorrhage and met and fell in love with French journalist Lucien Millevoye, editor of a radical newspaper, ‘La Patrie.’  The pair worked together for both Irish and French nationalist causes.  Maud ended her relationship with Millevoye in the late 1890s, but not before she had two children by him: a daughter, Iseult and one that died in infancy.

Maud had been introduced to Fenianism by John O’Leary, a veteran of the 1848 Young Irelander uprising and nationalist leader Tim Harrington recognized that this beautiful, intelligent young woman could be an asset to the nationalist cause.  He sent her to Donegal, where mass evictions were taking place.  A local newspaper documented her coming as “a Celtic Goddess arriving on a white charger to free the oppressed people of Donegal.”  A powerful and emotional speaker, she was successful in organizing the locals in protest against the evictions.  The fact that she fled to France to avoid arrest is a measure her success.

In 1889, John O’Leary introduced Maud to a man whose infatuation with her would last most of his life: poet William Butler Yeats.  Yeats proposed to Maud in 1891, and was refused, but through her influence, he became involved with Irish nationalism, later joining the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB).  At that time, the IRB was a secret organization, but Maud brought it into public prominence with her many protests against slum landlords and the cruel eviction laws of her day.  She also managed to attract police and political attention when she vehemently protested the celebration of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee.

Maud helped Yeats found the National Literary Society of London in 1891, the same year she refused his first marriage proposal.  Undaunted, Yeats proposed again and even proposed to Maud’s daughter by Millevoye – also unsuccessfully.  Returning to Paris, and to Millevoye, Maud published a nationalist newsletter called ‘L’Irelande Libre’ (Free Ireland).  She worked tirelessly raising funds for the movement, traveling to the US, Scotland, and England.  By now the name of Maud Gonne was well known among Irish nationalists and she was called Ireland’s Joan of Arc.

Returning to Ireland, she co-founded the Transvaal Committee, which supported the Afrikaners in the Boer War, and on Easter Sunday 1900 she co-founded Inghinidhe na hÉireann (Daughters of Erin), a revolutionary women’s society for whose monthly journal she wrote many political and feminist articles.  Somehow, while doing all this, she found time to star on stage in Yeats play, ‘Cathleen ní Houlihan,’ which Yeats had written specifically for her.  It was an incredibly emotional nationalist drama that debutedin Dublin on April 2, 1902 and influenced many to join the Irish volunteers in the 1916 rising.

In 1900, in Paris, Irish politician Arthur Griffith introduced Maud to Major John MacBride, who had been second in command of the Irish Brigade that fought on the Afrikaner side in the Boer War.  In 1903 Maud married MacBride.  Although the marriage produced a son, Seán, it was short-lived and the couple separated.  Maud continued to write political articles and in 1910 she joined Constance Markievicz, James Connolly and Jim Larkin in a campaign to feed the poor children of Dublin.    When it was arranged that King Edward visit Dublin, Maude helped form a Citizen’s Watch Committee and spoke before a rally of the Irish Parliamentary Party damning their support of the visit.  After her speech, an hour-long fight broke out which led to the ruin of the Irish Parliamentary Party.  Sinn Fein rose from its ashes.

During World War One, she worked with the Red Cross in France and returned to Ireland in 1917.  She found Ireland in turmoil after the Easter Rising of 1916 and the execution of the rising leaders, including her estranged husband, John MacBride.  Within a year she was jailed by the British for her part in the anti-conscription movement.  This was part of the trumped up “German Plot” that the British used to discredit anti-conscription activity.  Maud was interned at Holloway Jail for six months along with Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, Kathleen Clarke, Countess Markievicz and others.  After she was released, she worked for the White Cross for relief of Irish victims during the War of Independence.

When Ireland’s Civil War came, Maud supported the anti-treaty side. She helped to found the Women’s Prisoners Defense League to help Republican prisoners and their families.  In 1923, she once again found herself imprisoned, this time by the Irish Free State government. Along with 91 other women, Maud went on hunger strike.  The Free State government released her after 20 days.  In 1927, after government leader Kevin O’Higgins was assassinated and several IRA men were indiscriminately arrested, she organized a public demonstration which filled Dublin’s streets and the men were later released.  For the rest of her life Maud would continue to support the Republican cause and work for the Women’s Prisoners Defense League, which mobilized again in defense of Republican prisoners in 1935.

Maud Gonne MacBride died on April 27, 1953, but her influence on Ireland and the world continued after her death through her son, Seán MacBride.  As a young man, Seán fought on the Republican side in the Civil War and later carried on his mother’s crusade for the fair treatment of political prisoners, not just in Ireland, but all over the world.  Seán was one of the founders of Amnesty International and, in 1974, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  Maud Gonne MacBride is buried in the Republican plot in Glasnevin Cemetery, a fitting final tribute to the woman who was referred to as Ireland’s Joan of Arc.

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Memorial stone dedication for the Arsenal Memorial in Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC by AOH / LAOH with National Historian Mike McCormack and Sons of the Civil War representative Steve Hammond.

Photo and Video by Keith Carney

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                        National President’s Testimonial Dinner

                                                Conferral of The Sean MacBride Humanitarian Award

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4^TH      SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5^TH

See Below for Room and Function Reservations

FRIDAY:         Crowne Plaza Hotel

7 PM Welcome-“An Evening of Irish Entertainment and Hibernian Fellowship”

One Hour Open Bar-Entertainment-Cash Bar

SATURDAY:  Crowne Plaza Hotel

9:30 AM          National Board Meeting

5 PM               Mass

6-7 PM            Cocktail Hour (Open Bar with Lavish Hors d’oeuvres)

7-11PM          Banquet (4 Hour Open Bar, Dinner, Presentations, Dancing)

HOTEL RESERVATIONS:

Crowne Plaza Hotel, 3 Executive Blvd., Suffern, NY 10901

845-357-4800 (Group Code: “AOH”)

Discounted Rate: $109 per night (plus tax) (Rate applies to Thurs, Fri., Sat., Sun. nights.)

       (Room Reservations must be made no later than Friday, September 20th to guarantee discounted rate.)

FUNCTION RESERVATIONS (Complete and return separate form):

$110-FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FUNCTIONS combined

$  95-SATURDAY COCKTAIL HOUR and BANQUET

$  20-FRIDAY COCKTAIL HOUR and ENTERTAINMENT only

Function Reservation Forms will be mailed to National Board, State/County/Division Presidents.

Also available in The Hibernian Digest, on aoh.com and The Digital Digest.

Function Reservations or Requests for additional forms:  Eileen-845-712-5463 or eileenmoore2@gmail.com)

Click Here to download this form

Click Here for the Registration Form

Click Here for Menu Options

Click Here for Journal Form

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New York News | NYC Breaking News

I regret to say that once again our proud and noble heritage is under attack by the forces of ignorance, prejudice and corporations that will peddle anything for a dollar.  Once again Spencer’s, Urban Outfitters and Wal-Mart are selling shirts and novelties that seem to have sprung from the 19^th Century pen of bigoted nativist cartoonist Thomas Nast.  Among some of the items on offer this year:

• A hat with “Irish Girl Wasted”  (Spencer’s)
• A green shamrock emblazoned shirt with “Everyone Loves a Drunk Slut” (Spencer’s)
• A shirt with “Whiskey Beer Repeat” in the colors of the Irish Tricolor (Urban Outfitters)
• A green pint glass with “Irish Today, Hung Over Tomorrow” (Urban Outfitters)
• A shirt with a Leprechaun wearing shade and holding a crock filled with marijuana leaves and the caption “I always carry a little Pot with me”  (Urban Outfitters)
•  Drink till your “stumble” with a leprechaun falling down (Wal-Mart)
• A leprechaun vomiting a rainbow into a pot of gold (Wal-Mart)

Brothers, this is an outrage and our Oath calls us to action.   The Rockland County Hibernians organized a protest against the local mall where Spencer’s and some of the kiosk vendors were pushing this defaming garbage.  Members were able to enlist the aid of their local state Senator David Carlucci who organized a press conference in conjunction with the Hibernians.  There was extensive coverage of this protest on the major NY/NJ/Conn television and radio outlets.  It was interesting to note that while the protest was going on Spencer’s could not be reached for comment, it was only after the protests (when they knew that reporters would be unable to ask the AOH for a response) that Spencer’s Corporate Consul issued a statement saying “We do not feel our merchandise is offensive… But reflects the attitude of our core customers who are 18-24 year olds.”  Says a lot about Spencer’s courage and convictions that they didn’t want to take the on the issue until they felt safe there could be no rebuttal (if they had issued that contemptuous response earlier we would have been happy to point out that half of the” core customers” that Spencer’s claims to be targeting with shirts such as “Team Let’s Get Wasted” are under age).    It was also interesting to note the reaction of several of the reporters and some people passing by the protest when shown what was being sold, they were truly shocked and revolted.  There is a long struggle ahead of us brothers, but we are raising awareness.

We can also report some outright victories.  Members of the Rockland County LAOH on seeing defaming merchandise in the local “5 Below” store called corporate headquarters and the items were removed from the local store the next day. Brother Rick O’Neill who reported the offensive items seen at his  Wal-Mart in Rhode Island, complained to the manager who said they would be removed and sent back to the vendor.

Brothers as the great Irish Statesman Edmund Burke observed “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”  We cannot be discouraged nor fall victim to apathy in defense of our proud heritage.    We will always have those who will tell us to “Lighten Up” or “It’s a joke” when it’s our heritage that is being defamed but who will be outraged when another group is insulted.  Sadly more than a few will say “I’m Irish and I think it is funny”, when the only thing Irish about them is there last name.   Don’t be cowered by political correctness to speak out against these offensive items.   If the vendor doesn’t do the right thing in removing these defaming items don’t hesitate to take your case to the public through your newspapers and other media.    If all Hibernians speak with one voice we will be heard.

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The AOH National Board offers several scholarship opportunities for the children and grandchildren of its members. We ask that you please share this information on our scholarship  programs with your membership at your next meeting or in your next newsletter or communication.  Please also feel free to make copies of this letter and distribute it to your membership. Many thanks in advance for your assistance and cooperation with this request and endeavor.  If you are no longer President, please pass this letter onto your successor.

The Irish Way High School Scholarship: The Irish Way Program is unique cultural experience for teenagers, and is a nationally recognized summer study abroad program that has educated over 3000 high school students since its inception in 1975. The 2013 Irish Way High School Program will take place this summer in Ireland from June 28 to July 22, 2013.

The Irish Way Program is a 25-day cultural academic program offered to American and Canadian high school students. The Program consists of a wide variety of classes, workshops, and tours based in three locations throughout Ireland. The goal of the Irish Way is to introduce North American students to the essential characteristics and qualities of Irish life. By being immersed in Ireland’s history and culture, young adults are able to better understand and appreciate a country whose people have played a significant role in the history of western civilization

The AOH and LAOH National Boards offer two $500 Scholarships for this program. One of these scholarships is for the children and grandchildren of an AOH member, and the other scholarship is available for the children and grandchildren of an LAOH member.  Anyone who would like an application or further information about this program should contact the Irish American Cultural Institute, 1 Lackawanna Place, Morristown, NJ  07960. The Irish Way telephone number is: 973 605 1991. More information on this program is also available by going to: www.irishway.org.

The AOH Study Abroad Scholarship: The National Board of the Ancient Order of Hibernians offers two (2) Study Abroad Scholarships for the son, daughter or grandchild of an AOH member. The recipients of these scholarships must attend an accredited college or university in the United States, and be accepted at an accredited college/university in Ireland, that is recognized by the institution that he/she attends. Should not enough applications for the Study Abroad Scholarship be realized, then $500 Scholarships for Semester Abroad Programs or $1000/500 Masters Degree in Irish Studies Abroad Scholarships will be considered and granted when appropriate.  Please contact me for more information and or a scholarship application on this program. The deadline for the next round of applications for this scholarship is May 1, 2013.

Financial Assistance: Scholarships, loans and grants are available for study abroad accredited programs. For information on these financial opportunities, please visit the websites Education in Ireland, US Government Aid and the Direct Loan Program. These sites offer a host of information regarding financial assistance and grants that can be used to supplement our scholarships and help make an education in Ireland more affordable.

Please feel free to contact me for more information on any of these above programs by e-mail, phone or mail.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Irish Way & Study Abroad Scholarship Programs

William J. Sullivan, National Chairman

324 Winter Street

North Andover, Massachusetts 01845

978 682-4875

E-Mail: williamjsullivan@verizon.net

Download Application

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Division 5, a newly reorganized Division has a long history of leadership on Immigration reform and leadership. Along with his fellow honorees  Judge Collins spoke to a capacity audience of clergy leaders, NYC elected officials, United Irish County Assn and AOH and LAOH National, State, County leaders.

Judge Collins, now retired, is a lifelong Bronx resident and Hibernian and has been a friend and advocate for all AOH issues over his long and impressive career in the Bronx courts. He is a veteran of the fight against Irish Visa quota removal in 1965, the fight for Irish republican detainees of the 1980′s and 1990′s, and the 1990 Morrison Visa battle.

My late father, Dan and I were both Past Presidents of Division 5 who along with many other great Hibernians worked with Judge Collins on these issues.

I am proud to represent the National Board on the range of issues that concern immigration and I look forward to working even closer with all of you in the coming months. Two weeks ago, we fought to have Brian Pearson removed from the TSA NO-FLY list so that he could attend a reunion with his family. Just yesterday, Malachy McAllister received word that he has been granted another year in his fight to remain here in his adopted land. We will not stop until he and all the detainees’ are given permanent status in the US. Nor have we ever stopped fighting for all of our undocumented and detained Irish immigrants. Often, when a person’s future is at stake,  this sensitive work is best done without blast emails, herald or headline.

In January, when talk of immigration reform made national headlines, I called upon the coalition of Irish lobby groups to resume our weekly legislative updates. Along with ILIR, the Chicago Celts, Bruce Morrison & other key lobbyists and Irish Embassy official, I, as your representative to these talks, continue to hone the Irish elements of Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). When at last we have the wording of that component, I will share it with you all.

Until such time as that, please use this St. Patrick’s season to urge your elected officials to support CIR and that they must insure that the future flow of legal Irish immigration is vital to both Ireland and all of us.

Click Here to Download the Speech and I  hope that you can find it as inspiring as I have. It is a call to action for all Irish Americans. We must heed that call as Hibernians.

Click Here for an  editorial from today’s Irish Voice. Rarely does Mr. O’Dowd even mention our organization, but even he recognizes how important our role is in the future of immigration related to the Irish people.

I wish all of you and your families a Happy St. Patrick’s Day and remain

Yours in Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity,

Dan Dennehy

Ancient Order of Hibernians in America Inc.

National Immigration Chairman

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The object of a nationwide manhunt, he was being sought by more than just the Irish police for, two days after his escape, his home in England was mysteriously burglarized.  He decided that the only way to protect himself was to make his story public.  Unfortunately, very few people would hear the story because of the slanted coverage that was being given to news from that part of the world.  The day after the Littlejohn breakout, for example, Protestant Senator William Fox, seized by 12 armed men at a farmhouse where he was visiting, was found shot to death at Clones.  A Loyalist gang called the Ulster Freedom Fighters claimed responsibility but the police discounted that  and publicly blamed the IRA.  Though the IRA announced that it had no part, in the killing, their disclaimer was not reported in the press.  Then, on March 21, 2 British soldiers were killed and 2 others were wounded in separate incidents in Armagh by the Ulster police.  The soldiers were part of the crack Counterinsurgency unit of the Special Air Service and part of a plainclothes patrol employed against the IRA.  The police saw the men in civilian clothes in an IRA neighborhood and assumed that they were IRA men.  The incidents underscored the “shoot first and question later” attitude of the police, but they were reported in the press as merely a tragic accident.

Kenneth Littlejohn threatened to reveal the story unless the Dublin government released his brother, but the government, believing the British denial, refused.  Littlejohn called a press conference!  When the story broke publicly on March 30, despite attempts to hush it up, there were some red faces.  Authorities were embarrassed as British spy Kenneth Littlejohn, unravelled accounts of criminal activities performed for British Military Intelligence in the Republic of Ireland in an attempt to discredit the IRA.  He and his brother had pulled Ireland’s biggest bank robbery in the name of the IRA to force the Dublin government into more repressive measures against that organization and the Dublin government played right into their hands.  Littlejohn also revealed that he had been assigned to assassinate IRA leader Sean MacStiofain but had failed and that he had been given permission to shoot British soldiers if they interfered with his mission.  He revealed lengthy conversations with British officials, as far back as the IRA bombing of Aldershot on February 23, 1972.  British authorities finally, shamefully, admitted that Littlejohn was their agent.  British MP Marcus Lipton called for an in-depth investigation of the entire affair but, on April 3, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson formally rejected the proposal.  Local news accounts of the action credit former British Security Advisor, Lord Wigg, as the key figure in the decision not to investigate.

Then, to compound matters, Kenneth Lennon was found slain in Surrey, England on April 17.  Lennon, just before his death, had revealed to Great Britain’s National Council for Civil Liberties a story of intrigue and deception by Scotland Yard in its fight against the IRA.  He charged that the British Special Branch had pressured him into becoming a police informer by threatening him with criminal prosecution on an earlier incident in Northern Ireland.  His orders were to persuade those sympathetic to the IRA to commit crimes for the cause and then to reveal those crimes to Scotland Yard.  Arrangements were then made with the courts that he would not be prosecuted.  Lennon had been in great fear that he would end up in the middle – hunted by both the police and the IRA.  His death, coming on the heels of the Littlejohn affair, further embarrassed the authorities who, nevertheless, suppressed the truth and released the story that it was an IRA execution, and called for still tougher measures against the IRA.

On May 5, bombs planted in 3 cars exploded on a Dublin street during rush hour, killing 28 and critically wounding 80 more.  Immediate reaction was to blame the IRA and the world press carried that assumption.  However, when the cars were traced to Belfast’s Loyalist community and it appeared that the bombing was really the work of Unionist extremists, there was no world-wide press coverage for the revised version of the story or for the IRA denouncement of the bombing as “vile”.  But the Dublin government knew; they requested the United Nations to release 340 Irish soldiers from the U.N. Middle East Peace Force in order to intensify security along the Ulster border and along Dublin’s outskirts.  The bombing of Dublin was executed by Orange extremists timed to support a Loyalist protest strike just underway in Ulster.

Loyalists had called a general strike to protest the provisional government’s liberal attitude toward Catholics and the existence of Catholics on a new power-sharing Executive.  The strike brought Belfast to a standstill.  Finally, on May 28, the power-sharing Executive Council of Northern Ireland collapsed and Britain resumed direct rule.  On May 29, the Ulster Workers Council which had engineered the industrial shutdown of Ulster and toppled the power-sharing Executive officially terminated their strike.  They had won again and the minority population of northeast Ireland fell deeper into despair.

Now, forty years later, we can see that a new dawn is breaking in Northern Ireland and it may partly be due to the age of digital communication, cell phones and cameras that a biased press can no longer be used to hide oppression.

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