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Sean Óglaigh Na hÉireann/Friends of Irish Freedom
2007 Easter Commemoration and Mass
After the ceremony, those present
proceeded to the Easter Mass and Commemoration organized by Sean
Óglaigh na h- Éireann and the Friends of Irish Freedom at Kelly
Ryan’s Restaurant, the Irish American Cultural Club of Long
Island, the Tipperary N & B association and Saoirse NJ. The Mass
was celebrated by Fr. Pat Maloney who gave another stirring
sermon, perhaps his best, regarding the reality of life in the
26 county Irish Free State and in the occupied six counties.
Never known to pull his punches. He said that during his most
recent trip to Ireland he found evidence that the Celtic tiger
has devoured many of its poor while rewarding the rich. He went
on to say that recent developments in the British occupied six
counties would have Michael Flannery turn over in his grave,
because these developments are based on injustice, will the end
of British rule, therefore, will not bring unity and
independence to Ireland.
After Mass, Master of Ceremonies Martin Lyons, a lifelong
activist both in Ireland and in America for the cause of Irish
independence, introduced the dais. Martin welcomed Ken Tierney
another icon of Irish republicanism who is back from a long
illness. He also asked for a moment’s silence for those who died
in the past year including Frank Durkan, Bart Dougherty and
Eileen Flynn from Philadelphia
The dais included Tom Beirne of the Leitrim Society, former
Congressman and founder of the Ad Hoc Committee on Irish
affairs, Mario Biaggi, Tony Creany of the Antrim Society, Bob
Loughman of the National Irish Freedom Committee, Michael, Sean
and Jimmy McDermott; grand nephews of Seán Mac Diarmada who was
one of the organizers of the Easter Rising, Charlie McLoughlin
of the Friends of Irish Freedom, Mary Holt Moore of the Bronx
Gaelic League, who was honored in 2006 by Cumann Na Saoirse,
John Murphy of the Tipperary N & B Association and Mary Nolan of
the John Barry Club.
After a traditional Irish breakfast, Bridie McBearty from Derry
City, the guest speaker from Ireland, was introduced. Bridie
spoke eloquently regarding the current and ongoing situation in
the six occupied counties. Birdie’s son George was murdered by
the SAS in 1981. Her other son Danny is a founding member of the
"EX-POWS against the RUC/PSNI", of which Bridie is a patron. The
breakfast was a very well attended again this year. It was a
great success and congratulations are in order to the organizing
committee, in particular chairperson Cathleen O'Brien.
(Click here to view photos)
(Click her for a printable copy) |
