Irish Freedom

LAST UPDATED 11/26/2009
*The NIFC's Program* The NIFC's Program 'Our Irish-American Cultural Heritage’ links our past, present and future. It has been established for the purpose of preserving our Irish-American cultural heritage and the Fenian traditions passed on to us by our exiled Irish forebears. Our forebears, who came to America to escape poverty, persecution, political and religious oppression, imposed upon their homeland by a foreign usurper, contributed enormously to America’s freedom, culture and prosperity. They and their descendants fought in America's War of Independence, its Civil War and in every other war or conflict, when or, where America’s freedom or interests have been threatened. The NIFC will commemorate and honor their contributions and sacrifices and will carry on their tradition of helping their ancestral homeland in its noble struggle for true freedom and independence in a reunited 32-county sovereign Irish Republic. (Click here to learn more about the NIFC)
Remembering the Life and Work of John A. Costelloe (1961 - 2008) On Sunday, December 13^th at 3 PM, Cumann Na Saoirse Náısıúnta and the O'Donovan Rossa Society will co-host an event to honor the life and work of our late friend, John A. Costelloe, who passed away last December 18^th. This event will be held at Rocky Sullivan’s, 34 Van Dyke Street, Brooklyn, NY (718-246-8050). John was a long-time and active member of both organizations. In addition to his work in the Irish Republican movement, John was a retired New York City firefighter and an accomplished actor. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and appeared in many movies and television programs. As an actor, he was most well known for his role in The Sopranos, in which he played Jim “Johnny Cakes” Witowski. John also appeared in several productions with the renowned La Mama Experimental Theatre Club in Manhattan. John was a man of many talents and interests. He was a compassionate man who consistently supported the families of Irish republican prisoners. He was committed to social justice, socialism and republicanism. John regularly participated in local commemorations to deceased Irish patriots. Please join John’s family and friends on December 13^th to remember the life and work of this remarkable man.
O'Donovan Rossa Society Slide Presentation and Talk by Renowned Belfast Photographer Frankie Quinn Thursday, December 3, 7:00 PM --- Free Admission Rocky Sullivan's Pub -- 34 Van Dyke Street (at Dwight Street) -- Red Hook, Brooklyn The O'Donovan Rossa Society, Brooklyn, New York, is pleased to invite you to join us for a lecture and slide presentation by renowned Irish Photographer, Frankie Quinn. In particular, Quinn will present his most recent work Peaceline Panoramas, a series of photographs taken over the last five years, which document life along the 48 walls and barriers, known as 'Peacelines' , that divide the city of Belfast in the north of Ireland. The walls, many of which were constructed at the height of the recent conflict by the British Government, were initially conceived of as a temporary measure to separate communities divided along political and religious lines and to control mobility within the insurgent nationalist community. Far from being a temporary measure, the walls have increased in number and in height over the years, forming a network of enclaves, ghettos and deeply divided communities across the city. Quinn's presentation is timely, given the recent commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall, and his photos testify that despite the developments of the recent peace process, the continued presence of these fault-lines ensure that Belfast remains a divided and segregated city.
NIFC CALENDAR *internal links* *External Links* EIRE NUA CAMPAIGN Click on above image for a slide show presentation IRPAS Campaign Click on above image for details CULTURAL CAMPAIGN Click here to visit our Cultural Campaign DID YOU KNOW? That Margaret Thatcher vehemently opposed the reunification of Germany. Kremlin documents that have recently come to light disclose that two months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher told Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that Britain opposed the reunification of Germany and asked him to do what he could to prevent it from happening. Another example of moral leadership and democratic values! (Click here for more)	*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) FENIAN GRAVES 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 PUBLISHED Letters Kennedy No Friend I am writing in response to the plethora of letters, articles and eulogies to the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy that has been printed in this paper and elsewhere. Many of the letters and articles published in this country allude to Sen. Kennedy as having been a ‘good friend of Ireland.’ I believe the opposite. Early in Sen. Kennedy’s political career he championed the cause of Irish reunification. However, he ultimately supported the Belfast Agreement (a/k/a the “Good Friday Agreement”) which recognized the political legitimacy of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom, gave unionist voters in the north the "veto" over the issue of reunification and required Ireland to relinquish its constitutional claim over the six northern counties. In addition, Kennedy accepted an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for which he was quoted as being "deeply grateful to her majesty the Queen and to Prime Minister Brown for this extraordinary honor.” Senator Kennedy a good friend of Ireland? I think not! (Click here for other recently published letters) Additional items of interest Commission finds Church, State covered up abuse Despite the promises of independence, we've let ourselves become slaves IRA's darkest secrets to be revealed in archives Sinn Féin 'fears book by ex-IRA commander Brendan Hughes' There was an offer on the table – but the prisoners weren’t told Priest predicts 'worst week' for Church Veteran republican has no misgivings over IRA past RUAiRÍ Ó BRádaigh interview -- By Allison Morris IRA hunger strikers 'could have been saved' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch5u8YbOyIE Adams’s popularity as Sinn Fein president slumps to all-time low	Brian Mor Cartoons Europe
		This month in Irish American history Celtic New Year Samhain or November 1st is the first and most important day of the Celtic New Year Kevin Barry Executed On Nov. 1, 1920 - 18-year-old Irish patriot, Kevin Barry was executed by the British in Dublin Ireland for refusing to squeal on his IRA comrades Sinn Fein Reestablished On Nov. 2 1986 - The oldest political party in Ireland was re-established as Republican Sinn Féin in Dublin. Veteran Republican Ruairí Ó Brádaigh was elected as Uachtarán Founding of the Irish Women's Franchise League On Nov. 4, 1908 – six Irish women activists met in the home of Hanna and Francis Sheehy-Skeffington and founded the Irish Women's Franchise League Owen Rua (Roe) Ó Néill On Nov. 6, 1649 - Owen Rua (Roe) Ó Néill, Taoiseach of the Ó Neill Clan and the most successful Irish military leader in the war against Cromwell died. United Irishmen Founded On November 9, 1791 - Napper Tandy held the first meeting of the United Irish men in Dublin. The United Irishmen are considered to be the founders of today’s Irish Republicanism Irish Free State begins execution of Republican prisoners On Nov. 17, 1922 - in concert with their British backers the Irish Free State began the executions of seventy-seven anti-Treaty republican prisoners. Death of John J. Breslin On Nov. 18, 1887 - John J. Breslin, Fenian leader sprung James Stephens from a Dublin prison. He also led the famous 'Catalpa' rescue of six Fenian from from prison in Australia died at his residence in New York. Death of Theobold Wolfe Tone On Nov. 19, 1798 - Theobold Wolfe Tone, the leader of the1798 Uprising and a general in the French Army died under mysterious circumstances while in British custody awaiting execution British intelligence officers shot On the morning of Nov. 20, 1920 - 14 British intelligence officers were shot dead in Dublin by Michael Collins' men. First Bloody Sunday in Ireland On Nov. 21, 1920 - British occupation forces, aka the Black and Tans opened fire on football fans at a Gaelic football match in Croke Park Dublin killing (12) and injuring scores of innocent civilians Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, by-election victory On Nov. 22, 1869 - Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, Fenian leader, contested and won a Tipperary by-election in abstentia. He was declared ineligible because he was imprisoned by the British for his having opposed their occupation of Ireland. The Manchester Martyrs Hanged On Nov. 24, 1867 - three Irish born Fenian activists, Allen, Larkin and Ó Brien were hanged in Manchester England for their part in rescuing Fenian leaders from a police van. Founding of Irish Citizen Army On Nov. 24, 1913 - James Larkin founded the Irish Citizen Army is in Dublin Erskine Childers Executed On Nov. 24, 1922 - in concert with their British backers Irish Republican leader Erskine Childers is executed by the Irish Free State Founding of Sinn Féin On Nov. 28, 1905 - the Sinn Féin All Ireland political party was founded by Arthur Griffith in Dublin. Kilmichael Ambush On Nov. 28, 1920 - an eighteen man Black and Tan patrol at Kilmichael, West Cork, were wiped out by an IRA Flying Column led by General Tom Barry. It was the most effective and bloody IRA ambushes of the war. Irish Brigade at Mine Hill From Nov. 27 thru Dec. 2, 1863 - the Irish Brigade under the command of Colonel. Patrick Kelly was engaged in numerous skirmishes during the Mine Hill Campaign .