Hibernian Hardliners The Belfast Telegraph on March 21 headlined the story that British Secretary Hilary Benn had met with Irish Republican “hardliners” during his visit to Washington. The story was accompanied by a photo of the British official who presides over the six counties for Keir Starmer meeting an American delegation that included National AOH President Sean Pender and myself (wearing an Easter Lilly). While the ground rules of the meeting prevent me from quoting directly, Hibernians will have no doubt that we took … [Read more...] about Freedom For All Ireland Report – May 2025
FFAI Report – Jan/Feb/Mar 2025
Labour And British Legacy Cover-Up It is remarkable that the British Labour Party regime has so thoroughly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on legacy justice, by adopting the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery Commission left behind by Conservatives. Labour merely had to honor its “repeal and replace” pledge, to secure the good will of victims, six county political parties and the Irish government. Instead, Labour embraced the ICRIR, the centerpiece of the Conservative Legacy Act, and with it the blame for decisions like denying Sean Brown’s widow the … [Read more...] about FFAI Report – Jan/Feb/Mar 2025
Sean Brown and the Fight for Legacy Justice
The widow of murdered GAA official Sean Brown, Bridie Brown holds a picture of her late husband with their daughters and son, from left, Clare Loughran, Siobhan Brown and Sean Brown, outside the Royal Courts of Justicein Belfast. Sean Brown The heartbreaking battle for justice by Sean Brown’s widow and children is a telling example of why Hibernians must continue to make legacy justice a priority. Sean Brown was not involved in politics. He was devoted to the Bellaghy Wolfe Tone’s Gaelic Athletic Association Club. That was enough to make him a target for a Loyalist murder squad on May … [Read more...] about Sean Brown and the Fight for Legacy Justice
Irish America Needed Now For Unity Poll
AOH National President Sean Pender and other National Board members in attendance An overflow crowd at the Bronx County Ancient Order of Hibernian Dinner, stood and cheered as speaker Andree Murphy recalled Irish America’s historic role in 1916, the Black and Tan War, and Good Friday Agreement, then pointed to a banner calling for the end of British rule in Ireland and exclaimed “I am here to tell you that day has come!”. She said Irish American support for Ireland’s Future, the non-party political organization campaigning for a vote on Irish reunification under the Good Friday Agreement, … [Read more...] about Irish America Needed Now For Unity Poll
2024 FFAI Christmas Appeal
A chairde, After 14 years of Tory misrule, Keir Starmer now heads the British government. Sadly, Labour ha already shown it makes little difference which English party administers the six counties. The Good Friday Agreement says that it is for the people of Ireland alone to exercise their right of national self- determination “without external impediment. British officials say a vote on Irish reunification “is not even on the horizon.” When it comes to giving justice to the Irish, a British horizon means generations away. Unionist leaders will not discuss a united Ireland, so long as … [Read more...] about 2024 FFAI Christmas Appeal
AOH GAELIC MASS DAY WATCHED NATIONALLY
Hibernians wearing sashes and medallions,joined local Irish community groups, Gaelic Clubs and St. Barnabas parishioners, for Bronx County’s 5th annual Gaelic Mass Day, celebrated by Fr. Brendan Fitzgerald on Sunday October 29th. Once again the symbol for the day was the Irish Mass Rocks, where outlawedMasses were said in secret by outlawed priestsduring the English Penal Laws. This year the Irish Language Mass included a special remembrance for bereaved families “who hunger and thirst for justice”, following a call by Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of all Ireland, for prayers for those who … [Read more...] about AOH GAELIC MASS DAY WATCHED NATIONALLY
We Need Irish America Behind Us
Senator Frances Black, Chairperson of Ireland's Future. Senator Frances Black, the chairperson of Ireland’s Future, described as a driving force for a border vote under the Good Friday Agreement(GFA), told Irish Americans 'we need you behind us' to get and win referendums for a United Ireland. She was joined by fellow Board Members Professor Colin Harvey and Andree Murphy in the live webinar program, IRELAND’S FUTURE-IRISH AMERICA’S ROLE, hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). The event, a follow-up to recent major conferences in Dublin and Belfast, was timed to coincide with the … [Read more...] about We Need Irish America Behind Us
AOH Freedom For All Ireland Christmas Appeal (2022-23)
A chairde, Last April, Hibernians across the country joined a special live webinar broadcast from the Houben Centre, Holy Cross Church, in Belfast, where two weeks earlier an event with the Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney had to be cancelled because of loyalist bomb threats. This year’s 15 grant recipients spoke about their work for freedom for all Ireland, and how much they count on Christmas Appeal donations. The Hibernian Grants Presentation is posted and can be viewed on AOH YouTube. https://youtu.be/MIAIyCuwO5w?t=5 Grants were awarded to justice campaigners like Relatives … [Read more...] about AOH Freedom For All Ireland Christmas Appeal (2022-23)
AOH Gaelic Mass Watched Nationally
The Westchester County Legislature proclaimed “Gaelic Mass Day,” as viewers from as far away as Texas, California and Ireland itself, joined Hibernians wearing sashes and medallions, Irish community groups, Irish speakers and parishioners, for a Mass said in Irish by Fr. Brendan Fitzgerald at St. Barnabas on Saturday September 17th. Bronx County Ancient Order of Hibernians’ 4th annual Gaelic Mass, again made a national Hibernian event by President Danny O’Connell, was carried live on the parish Facebook and AOH YouTube. This year the Irish Language Mass included special prayers for victims’ … [Read more...] about AOH Gaelic Mass Watched Nationally
Take Britain to European Court on Amnesty Call
Members of a key Irish parliamentary Committee have urged the Irish government to charge Britain in the European Court of Human Rights, if Britain enacts its Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill shutting down hopes of legacy justice. Fergus O’Dowd TD, on behalf the Irish Committee for the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA),has made the formal request to the Irish Attorney General, while fellow committee member, Rose Conway-Walsh TD, raised the issue with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin during the recent British-Irish Association conference. These … [Read more...] about Take Britain to European Court on Amnesty Call
Hibernians – RFJ Lobby Against Amnesty Law
Leading Hibernians, joined by Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice, secured crucial Senate, House, and Irish Oireachtas support against the planned British Amnesty bill last week in Washington. The emergency lobby took place as Britain moves to rush through an amnesty bill despite overwhelming opposition across Ireland. A key public statement by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, a new House Foreign Affairs Committee initiative, and backing for an Irish government case against Britain in the European Court of Human Rights, wereamong results which made the week one of the most … [Read more...] about Hibernians – RFJ Lobby Against Amnesty Law
AOH President Commends Congressional Delegation
Danny O'Connell, National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, is currently in Ireland where he met Irish government officials including Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, and with legacy victims’ families, including the Springhill Massacre families in Belfast and Bloody Sunday families in Derry Belfast. As leader of the oldest and largest Irish American organization, he wanted to congratulate and commend the visiting Congressional delegation led by House Ways and Means,and Friends of Ireland Chairman Richie Neal, for their forthright comments on the protocol issue in the face of the somewhat … [Read more...] about AOH President Commends Congressional Delegation
AOH President in Belfast for Legacy Pledge
Danny O'Connell, National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, traveled to Belfast to meet the Springhill Massacre families, at the site where a priest, Fr. Noel Fitzpatrick, Patrick Butler, three teenagers, Margaret Gargan, John Dougal and David McCafferty were murdered by British Army snipers on July 9th 1972. He told victims’ relatives he was there to stand with the Springhill Massacre families and give a pledge to them and all victims’ relatives who have been fighting for legacy truth that he, and the powerful Irish American AOH organization which he heads would continue to stand … [Read more...] about AOH President in Belfast for Legacy Pledge
Amnesty ‘Kick in the Teeth’ for Victims
Belfast woman who has been campaigning nearly 50 years for legacy truth, described the Queen’s Speech amnesty announcement as a “kick in the teeth” for thousands of victims seeking justice. Patricia Burns, whose father was shot dead by British troopers in July 1972, spoke 4 days after the Queen’s Speech announcement, that Britain will push ahead with a Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) amnesty bill despite overwhelming opposition from Irish victims, the Irish government, Irish political parties and American Congress. She was joined by Congressman Jamaal Bowman, victims’ … [Read more...] about Amnesty ‘Kick in the Teeth’ for Victims
Key Hibernian Fact-Finding Mission Ends
As the British move ahead with amnesty plans in their Queen’s speech and Westminster legislation, a Hibernian fact-finding delegation heard appeals for American help from legacy victims across the six counties. “Without the AOH and Irish America, Boris Johnson would have already shut everything down and made sure there would be no justice!” said one legacy victims’ campaigner, Martin Mallon in Tyrone. The delegation, which included senior national officers from both the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH),spent 10 days meeting relatives on the … [Read more...] about Key Hibernian Fact-Finding Mission Ends
Congressional and Irish Opposition to British Amnesty Plans
Fiona O’Hagan and Una Casey, whose husbands were among 19 collusion murder victims named in the Operation Greenwich report, heard Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick announce a new Congressional initiative opposing any British amnesty designed to end or inhibit investigations into Troubles murders. The announcement came during an Ancient Order of Hibernian webinar, highlighted by the heartbreaking personal stories of two victims, and an overview of the Operation Greenwich report by Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice. The victims then heard wide ranging support from Irish government … [Read more...] about Congressional and Irish Opposition to British Amnesty Plans
AMERICAN AOH MEETING BELFAST VICTIMS’ FAMILIES
Ancient Order of Hibernians National President Danny O'Connell gets briefing on Springhill Massacre at site of the Massacre. Last Wednesday British Secretary Brandon Lewis pledged that he was “absolutely committed” to legislate an amnesty for all Troubles killings. Danny O'Connell, National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians traveled to Belfast to meet the Springhill Massacre families, New Lodge Six families and Sean Graham’s Bookmakers Massacre Families in meetings arranged by Relatives for Justice. He pledged that the powerful Irish American organization is “absolutely … [Read more...] about AMERICAN AOH MEETING BELFAST VICTIMS’ FAMILIES
Britain Wants To Bury Hopes of Legacy Justice
The Ancient Order of Hibernians, has issued the following statement by National Freedom for All Ireland Chairman Martin Galvin. Congressman Brendan Boyle, Irish Consul General Ciaran Madden, and representatives of Irish and British political parties, joined with Irish Americans across the country, to hear victims’ relatives and survivors appeal for help to stop Britain from taking away their rights to legacy justice. Jacqueline Butler, daughter of a Springhill Massacre victim, Steven Travers a survivor of the Miami Showband Massacre, and Martin Mallon, whose aunt Roseann Mallon was one of … [Read more...] about Britain Wants To Bury Hopes of Legacy Justice
Ballymurphy Verdict will test British justice
AOH National President Danny O'Connell and Secretary Jere Cole in Ballymurphy The Ancient Order of Hibernians, has issued the following statement by National Freedom for All Ireland Chairman Martin Galvin: “The Ancient Order of Hibernians, America’s oldest and largest Irish American organization, welcomes the announcement by Justice Keegan that she will publish her findings of the Ballymurphy Massacre Inquests on May 11th 2021. “The Ballymurphy Massacre is a fundamental test of Britain's ability to give legacy justice. If victims cannot get justice where 11 people, including a … [Read more...] about Ballymurphy Verdict will test British justice
Hibernians Backing Legacy Justice Appeal
Hundreds of victims' families, fighting new British plans to cut off chances for legacy justice, will make a special live appeal for American support on a webinar hosted by Hibernians on Saturday, January 23rd. This special appeal to Irish Americans will climax a series of events, including a published open letter signed by hundreds of families, and political initiatives both north and south. Relatives for Justice Director Mark Thompson and selected victims' representatives will speak from Ireland, while America's oldest and largest Irish organization, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and … [Read more...] about Hibernians Backing Legacy Justice Appeal