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
Freedom For All Ireland
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
2022 AOH Ireland Tour
Working with Derry Blue Badge Tours we have once again put together a historical/political and educational tour of the North for 2022 to include participation in the 50th anniversary commemoration of Bloody Sunday. This trip is open to all AOH and LAOH members and guests. Availability is limited to first 50 paid travelers; reservations will only be held based on receipt of non-refundable deposits. Itinerary and costs below may be updated depending on availability and attendance. Total cost is $1400 double occupancy and includes all ground transportation while in the Ireland***, ten … [Read more...] about 2022 AOH Ireland Tour
Statement By AOH National President on Today’s Verdict Vindicating the Ballymurphy Massacre Victims
(Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Daniel O'Connell, National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the largest Irish American organization in the U.S., has released the following statement: After 18,171 days, almost half a century, today's verdict by Mrs. Justice Keegan not only confirmed that the ten victims of Britain's Ballymurphy Massacre were totally innocent but indicts the British who branded them guilty. The verdict clearly demonstrates Britain's real reason for announcing plans for a soldiers' amnesty or cut-off of historical investigations because the crown … [Read more...] about Statement By AOH National President on Today’s Verdict Vindicating the Ballymurphy Massacre Victims
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
AOH Statement on the British Government’s Refusal of an Independent Public Inquiry into the Murder of Pat Finucane
Once again, the British Government has refused to honor its own court rulings, pledges, and international law, regarding the murder of civil rights lawyer Pat Finucane. It has again refused a public inquiry which would reveal the extent of British state complicity in the murder and has instead told the Finucane family to again make complaints to the constabulary or ombudsman, in other words, to continue with the very process that the British Courts have found as insufficient. We can only conclude that Britain has much to hide. AOH National President, Daniel J O’Connell, added “the British … [Read more...] about AOH Statement on the British Government’s Refusal of an Independent Public Inquiry into the Murder of Pat Finucane
Hunger Strike 1980
https://youtu.be/YusVQUas-Zs Hibernians join 1980 Hunger Strikers Tommy McKearney and Fra McCann, and political commentator Andree Murphy for a discussion about the 1980 Hunger Strike. Forty years ago, seven Irish Republican political prisoners were in the midst of a 53 day Hunger Strike against British torture and a strategy to brand them as common criminals rather than political prisoners. Britain's decision at the end of that Hunger Strike, to intensify efforts to break the H-block prisoners rather than compromise, triggered the 1981 Hunger Strike transforming Irish politics and its … [Read more...] about Hunger Strike 1980
The 2020-21 Freedom For All Ireland Christmas Appeal
Please donate to this year’s CHRISTMAS APPEAL. Together we can make a difference.All checks must be made out to “Ancient Order of Hibernians”. Payments should be sent to AOH-FFAI PO BOX 904 JEFFERSON VALLEY, NY 10535. 2020-21 Appeal Pledge FromDownload 2020-21 Freedom for All Ireland ClubDownload 2019-20 Grant Criteria and RecipientsDownload 2020 Freedom For All Ireland Christmas Appeal LetterDownload 2020-21 Freedom For All Ireland Christmas Appeal Closing LetterDownload 2019-20 Freedom For All Ireland Century Club DonorsDownload Your help for freedom for all Ireland is … [Read more...] about The 2020-21 Freedom For All Ireland Christmas Appeal
Plastic Justice Report
A Report on the use of Plastic and Rubber Bullets in Ireland The Ancient Order of Hibernians was honored to host a virtual release of the “Plastic Justice Report” prepared by Relatives for Justice, Belfast. The report was broadcast on YouTube on Saturday, October 24 at 4 pm Local time in Ireland, 11 am Eastern U.S. https://youtu.be/QahLrUFCbuA Per FFAI Chairman Martin Galvin: “Plastic Justice“ is a special report on how British state forces used plastic bullets to kill 17 innocent Irish people with impunity, will get a transatlantic launch on Saturday, October 24. In Belfast, … [Read more...] about Plastic Justice Report
FFAI – Virtual Event – Saturday 10-24
Hibernians Host Live Virtual Release of "Plastic Justice Report" The Ancient Order of Hibernians, National Freedom for All Ireland (FFAI) Chairman Martin Galvin has announced that the Hibernians will be hosting a virtual release of the "Plastic Justice Report" prepared by Relatives for Justice, Belfast. The report will be broadcast on YouTube on Saturday, October 24 at 4 pm Local time in Ireland, 11 am Eastern U.S. Per FFAI Chairman Galvin: "Plastic Justice" is a special report on how British state forces used plastic bullets to kill 17 innocent Irish people with … [Read more...] about FFAI – Virtual Event – Saturday 10-24
HIBERNIANS PRESENT FREEDOM GRANTS
AOH/LAOH present Freedom For All Ireland (FFAI) Grants by Zoom. Freedom for all Ireland (FFAI) grants totaling almost $100,000 were handed out last month to seventeen applicants by the American Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH.) Leading figures from each grant recipient, then joined in a zoom webinar conference on September 19th, telling Hibernians from across the United States, about each group's work and how much they count on American financial help. The grant checks were personally delivered in Belfast, Derry, Tyrone and Down by recently … [Read more...] about HIBERNIANS PRESENT FREEDOM GRANTS
Justice for Bloody Sunday Denied Again Says AOH
The Statue of Justice erected at Dublin Castle during British Imperial Rule. The decision not to prosecute Soldiers involved in Bloody Sunday confirms again that British justice in Ireland is to look to the sword and not the scales of fairness.(Image by Alberto Sanchez from Pixabay) Ancient Order of Hibernians National Freedom for All Ireland Chair Martin Galvin has issued the following statement concerning the decision by the Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service not to prosecute 15 British Soldiers accused of participating in the killings of Bloody Sunday in Derry in … [Read more...] about Justice for Bloody Sunday Denied Again Says AOH
AOH Comments on Malachy McAllister Deportation
On the day Malachy McAllister surrendered for deportation, AOH National Board Members: Treasurer Sean Pender, Immigration Chairman Dan Dennehy, and Freedom For All Ireland Chairman Martin Galvin accompanied him to stand beside and support him on this very bleak day. Here are their video comments made about the deportation of our friend Malachy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkfX-IQkU8U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hanGdCMZBoE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mkcv-H9MdZU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AG2YRgIxZo … [Read more...] about AOH Comments on Malachy McAllister Deportation
Freedom for all Ireland video chat with Belfast National Graves Association
https://youtu.be/j9k6Kd5gE_Y Featuring Joe Austin, Chairperson of Belfast National Graves Association, and Bik McFarlane, Members of Belfast NGA. About today's Guests: Joe Austin is a Sinn Fein activist. In addition to being Chairperson of Belfast NGA, Joe is a former SF Belfast City Councillor. Joe was a key liaison between the Hunger-Strikers, Republican POW's and the Republican leadership outside Long Kesh. Bik McFarlane is a Sinn Fein activist. A former Republican POW in Long Kesh Cages and the H-Blocks. Bik was OC for Republican POW's during the second Hunger-Strike. He … [Read more...] about Freedom for all Ireland video chat with Belfast National Graves Association
FFAI BULLETIN – May 2020
A chairde: FFAI ISSUES UPDATE A -- Catholic Bishops, legal scholars and justice campaigners slam British plan on legacy killings -- Four Catholic Bishops, legal experts and justice campaigners slammed British plans on crown legacy killings, accusing Britain of "bad faith" and "rewriting the rules of justice." Instead of an Historical Investigations Unit investigating hundreds of controversial killings, including British trooper killings, Britain wants only a review by their appointed "independent body". This panel would close all cases, unless they saw "new compelling evidence and a … [Read more...] about FFAI BULLETIN – May 2020