LAST UPDATED 12/20/2009

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)

CHRISTMAS APPEAL

The Annual CABHAIR Christmas Swim will be held this year on Christmas morning at the Grand Canal in Inchicore, Dublin.  This year marks the 33 Anniversary of this event.  Over the last few years, here in the U.S. we have growing support and sponsorship for those who take the chilly morning plunge in support of the prisoners’ families.
With the holiday season fast approaching, many families will benefit from your donation of any amount in support of the Annual CABHAIR Swim.  Your contribution means something truly special to them, especially in days such as these.  If you have been meaning to contribute all year, this is the time to do so.  Your support will raise the spirits of a family - who have sacrificed themselves to raise the spirit of a Sovereign Irish Nation.

(Click here for additional details) --   Click here for video 1) --(Click here for video 2)

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EIRE NUA CAMPAIGN

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CULTURAL CAMPAIGN

Click here to visit our Cultural Campaign

DID YOU KNOW?

The number of children living in poverty in Ireland remains alarmingly high. The latest EU-SILC statistics from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that 1 in 16 children in Ireland were living in consistent poverty in Ireland in 2008. That means over 65,000 children went without basic necessities – a warm meal, a winter coat, heating at home – because their families were too poor to provide these basics for them.

 Another 185,000 children, or just over one in 5 of all children, were at risk of poverty in 2008.  These children lived in households where the family income was less than 60% of the national median income per adult of €400 per week.


Irish Republican Information Service

In this issue 12/18/09

1. When is an Irishman not an Irishman?
2. Reckless planning contributed to flooding
3. Maura Harrington jailed for nine months for causing €160 damage to Shell net
4. Border must be questioned not shopping
5. New CPT criticisms of Maghaberry prison
6. Prison governor quits after five months
7. RUC cover-up over plastic bullet death of Nora McCabe
8. Kelly family has no faith in HET enquiry
9. RUC collusion in Hamill murder case
10. Dockers not yet back to work
11. Taxpayer to pay for M3 double toll
12. More than 2,000 cases of torture in Israeli prison during past year
13. Ireland to Gaza: Four teams set off for Gaza
14. Miami Five resentenced, returned to jail, unbowed

Click here to access articles)

Remembering the Life and Work of John A. Costelloe

On Sunday, December 13, 2009 Cumann Na Saoirse Náisiúnta and the O'Donovan Rossa Society co-hosted a first anniversary memorial to honor the life and work of our late friend, John A. Costelloe, who passed away last December 18th. A large crowd of family, friends and colleagues turned out to honor and remember the life and work of an exceptional person. 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. During the warm and intimate event, John was remembered in a variety of song, poetry, personal reflections and video as a man of many talents and interests. His father spoke of how John's knowledge and understanding of Irish Republicanism was the core of his commitment to social justice, human rights and sovereignty for all people.

(Click here for video)

The 105th Sinn Féin Árd Fheis

Members of Cumann Na Saoirse Náisiúnta attended the 105th Árd Fheis of Sinn Féin, held in Dublin on November 14 and 15, 2009.  It was an historic occasion as veteran leader Ruairí O Brádaigh was stepping down from the post of president of the organization he joined in 1949.  Thankfully, Ruairí will continue to defend the legitimate Irish Republic proclaimed in 1916 in his new post as a member of the Árd Chomaírle (National Executive.) --  continue

(Click here for video 1)  -- (Click here for video 2)

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

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

Additional items of interest

Brian Mor Cartoons

This month in Irish & IRISH-American history

Death in Derry
On Dec. 1,  1848 -- a total of 72  immigrant including men women and children trying to escape the Great Hunger suffocated in the hold of the The Londonderry, in Derry harbor


Death of Thomas Clarke Luby
On Dec. 1, 1901 --  Thomas Clarke Luby, the Fenian leader died in NewYork. 


The Good Friday Agreement

On Dec. 2, 1999 --  The Good Friday Agreement (GFA) came into existence beginning a roll back of Republican gains and the  forfeiture of the Irish Nations boundaries.


Ulster Volunteer Force massacre

On Dec. 4, 1971 -- the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) claimed responsibility for a bomb blast that killed 17 people in a Belfast pub. 


Anglo-Irish Treaty signed

On Dec. 5, 1921 -- Lloyd George, the British Prime minister,  informed the Irish delegation that a rejection of the Anglo Irish Treaty  would result in a "immediate and terrible war" 

The Treaty was signed the following day.


Irish Free State established

 On Dec. 6, 1922  -- Saorstát Éireann, or the 26-county Irish Free State was established


Irish Free State executions
On Dec.  8,  1922 -- Liam  Mellows from  Connacht,  Rory O'Connor from Leinster, Joseph McKelvey of Ulster  and Richard Barrett from Munster, all  Irish patriots  were  summarily executed by the Free State Forces.


Sunningdale Agreement signed

On Dec. 9, 1973 --  the Sunningdale Agreement was signed -- setting up a council of Ireland’.  It was rejected by Provicional Sinn Fein who later accepted the politically less favorable but personally more remunerative Good Friday Agreement (GFA)


Martial Law declared

 On Dec. 10, 1920 -- the British  imposed martial law  in Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary . The following day Dec. 11, they declared martial law  in the rest of Ireland and the Black and Tans celebrated by burning and looting Cork City


Border Campaign announced

 On Dec. 11,  1956 --  the Irish Republican Army (IRA) announced the beginning of   “A Campaign of Resistance to British Occupation" in what became  known as the Border Campaign.  As a result, internment without trial was introduced in both the occupied six counties and in the Free State.


 Battle of Fredericksburg

 On Dec. 11 - 15, 1862 --   one of the bloodiest  battles of the American Civil War was fought at Fredericksburg  in Virginia. The Irish Brigade under the command of  Brig. Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher led the charge  across open ground  towards the well fortified Marye’s Heights. The Brigade lost over 50% of its troops but advanced further up the heights than any other Union Brigade.


Sinn Féin election victory

On Dec. 14, 1918 -- Sinn Féin contested the British general election   promising not to represent their constituents  in the Westminster Parliament, but, instead promised to set up a Republican assembly that would form an Irish government for Ireland..  Sinn Féin won over 79% of the popular vote  and 73 of 105 seats including a majority of seats in the Province of Ulster.


The Flight of the Wild Geese

On Dec. 22, 1691 -- most of Patrick Sarsfield’s Irish Army left Ireland in French ships to become the Irish Brigade in the service of France.


Edward Heath home bombed

On Dec. 22, 1974 -- the London home of the Conservative leader and former  Prime Minister  was damaged from the impact of a bomb planted by the IRA. The attack came just hours before a Christmas truce was due to come into effect


Frongoch Prison

On Dec. 25, 1916 --  Irish political prisoners, who were interned at the infamous Frongoch Prison in Wales, were released.  Many of them went on to fight in the War of Independence.


Death of Dan Breen
 On Dec. 27, 1969 -- Dan Breen who shot the first policeman in the Irish war of Independence died in Co Tipperary

National Irish Freedom Committee, P.O. Box 770579, Woodside, NY 11377

 Website: www. irishfreedom.net   --  Email: nifcmem@optonline.net

The NIFC does not accept responsibility for the content of linked websites