Irish Republican Information Service
In this issue 11/24//09
1. Historic Republican Sinn Féin Ard-Fheis
2. Indefinite DNA retention slammed
3. Niall Fagan/Thomas Allen Cumann continues its work
4. Mortar targets RUC/PSNI
5. Unsafe verdicts to be officially quashed
6. Inmates to take action over jail searches
7. Texts urge loyalists to confront Republicans
8. Fugitive’s brother key witness in McDaid killing case
9. Ballymurphy massacre families in Brussels visit
10. One in four families living on less than €20k
11. Dockers strike over?
12. Message from Viva Palestine Cork re Gaza
13. Missing details led judge to reject Basque’s
extradition
14. Cost of Irish troops in Afghanistan
15. Brazilian workers charge Shell with
‘environmental crimes’
(Click here to access articles)
New president for Republican Sinn Féin
Republican Sinn
Féin today elected a new president to succeed
Ruairi O’Bradaigh, who has led the organization
for more than 20 years.
The veteran hard-line
republican, 77, is retiring for health and age reasons.
His replacement Des Dalton, from Co Kildare, has
been vice-president since 2003. “Anno Domini catches up
with us all, eventually,” he said.
“My turn has come to step
down as president. I do so on the grounds of age and
health. All in all, I am in my 60th year as an active
member of the republican movement.”
A teacher by profession
and originally from Co Longford, Mr. O’Bradaigh founded
the organization after a split with Gerry Adams and his
supporters 23 years ago, famously walking out of a party
conference. He has been appointed patron of the
organization.
(Click here for new president's address)
The True Path to Irish
Reunification, Éire Nua
The
following article was published in the San Francisco
based
'Irish Herald'
in July 2009
In
recent weeks there has been a great deal of interest in Irish
American circles regarding Ireland, partition and a federal solution
due to comments attributed to Dr. Brendan Ó Leary a professor of
political science at the University of Pennsylvania. His comments
were made during a recent meeting at the New York Hilton. Prof. Ó
Leary proposed a “federal solution” to Ireland and partition. In Ó
Leary’s proposal Ireland would have the British occupied six
counties form a “federation” with the 26 southern counties. --
continue
2009 Republican Commemorations
On Sunday, October 18, 2009 Cumann Na Saoırse Náιsιúnta (CnSN), the Friends of Irish Freedom and the Ó Donovan Rossa Society co-sponsored a commemoration honoring several deceased Irish Republicans who remained true to the Irish Republic as proclaimed on Easter 1916.
The commemoration, which honored life-long republicans Michael and Pearl Flannery, George Harrison and Patrick Mullin (see bios at end of this article), was held at Rocky Sullivan’s in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
The well-attended event was MC’ed by Sandy Boyer, co-host of
WBAI radio 99.5 FM’s “Radio Free Éıreann” program. Testimonials were read for the four deceased Irish patriots. The program included a tribute to George Harrison written by Ruaırí Ó Brádáιgh, President of Republican Sınn Féın, and presented by George’s grandniece, Alana Harrison. ----
continue
(Click here for videos ---
Part 1 ----
Part 2)
Edward
Hand (1744 - 1802)

Edward Hand was born
in Kings County (Co. Offaly) Ireland in 1744. He studied medicine at
Trinity College, Dublin and afterward enlisted
as a surgeon's mate in the Royal Irish Regiment.
In 1767
he was sent to
America with his regiment to serve on the Pennsylvania
frontier. Having reservations about enforcing Britain's
despotic colonial policies in
America, he resigned
his commission in 1774 and settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania were he
practiced medicine.
At the onset of the Revolutionary War in
1775 he was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel in the
1st Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment. He served at the Siege of
Boston, the Battle of Long Island, and the battles of Trenton and
Princeton. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1777 and placed in
command of the American forces at Fort Pitt in western Pennsylvania . He
was given command of a brigade of
light infantry in Lafayette's Division in 1780 and in February of 1781
was appointed Adjutant
General of the Continental Army.
He was a close friend of George
Washington and was with him in Mount
Vernon and Williamsburg during preparations for the Battle of Yorktown.
He was promoted to brevet
Major General before
resigning from the army in the autumn of 1783.
After returning to civilian life, he was elected to the
old Confederation Congress in 1784 and afterwards served as an assemblyman
in the Pennsylvania legislature from 1785 to 1786. He also served as a delegate to the
1790 Pennsylvania Constitution convention. In 1789
he was elected Chief Burgess of the City
of Lancaster.
He
died of cholera on September 3, 1802. --
(continue)
SUPPORT 2009-2010 -- Changing Winds
For those living on U.S. Native Reservations
Did You Chop Your Wood Today?
Many people on the reservations have no heat in the winter, and many communities rely solely on wood burning stoves for heat.
Irony? In some places, even wood is hard to find. Will your children be warm this winter? Will they have a bed with sheets and blankets? Three meals a day? Boots and gloves? Many children on the reservations will have none of these things.
Last year the first blizzard hit early in November, leaving thousands without food and electricity for weeks. The damage by the worst winter in 80 years left its mark: roofs fell in, black mold increased, and now, food banks have either closed or started to charge the hungry. This year for many will be even harder then the last. To learn more & support go to:
www.changingwinds.org