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)

SUNDAY  14 February 2010
Assemble for march:              The Irish Haven, 5721 4th Ave (& 58th Street), Bay Ridge
Assembly Time:                    12:30pm sharp ----  Mass Time:    1:00pm
Mass:                                   Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 59th Street & 5th Ave, Bay Ridge                       
Reception:                            The Irish Haven.... following Mass
For info. call Mary Nolan:       718-833-3405

Thomas Osbourne Davis  (1814 - 1845

Men, are ever valued most for peculiar and original qualities. A man who can only talk commonplace, and act according to routine, has little weight. To speak, look, and do what your own soul from its depths orders you are credentials of greatness which all men understand and acknowledge. Such a man's dictum has more influence than the reasoning of an imitative or commonplace man. He fills his circle with confidence. He is self-possessed, firm, accurate, and daring. Such men are the pioneers of civilisation and the rulers of the human heart.

Why should not nations be judged thus? Is not a full indulgence of its natural tendencies essential to a people's greatness Force the manners, dress, language and constitution of Russia, or Italy, or Norway, or America, and you instantly stunt and distort the whole mind of either people.

 The language, which grows up with a people, is conformed to their organs, descriptive of their climate, constitution, and manners, mingled inseparably with their history and their soil, fitted beyond any other language to express their prevalent thoughts in the most natural and efficient way. --- continue

Source:   http://www.from-ireland.net/

In this issue 02/02/10

1. Republican prisoners demand right to organise their own landing
2. Nationalist couple in Banbridge targeted by MI5 & RUC Special Branch
3. Cuts to minimum wage must be opposed
4. Second attack on Crossmaglen RUC barracks
5. Two men questioned over RUC bomb attack
6. Accused ‘tried to stab Thomas Devlin's pal’
7. Memorial for 1957 Edentubber Martyrs
8. RUC member held over loyalist murders in Loughinisland
9. Billy McKee sets the record straight on the Battle of St Matthew’s
10. British Tories accused of ‘playing Orange card’
11. Stop-and-search triples in the Six Counties
12. Call to keep Údarás na Gaeltachta
13. Attempt to re-brand immoral Afghan war
14. Australians debate removing Union Jack from official flag
15. Belfast journalists support their Basque colleagues facing prison

Click here to access articles)

Wolfe Tone in France

On  Feb. 1, 1796, -  Wolf Tone, arrived in France seeking military assistance for an Uprising being planned by The United Irishmen

British Embassy burned

On Feb 2, 1972 - angry crowds, reacting to the Bloody Sunday massacre of civilians in Derry City by British paratroopers, burned the British embassy in Dublin.  A total of 14 people were shot dead and over 60 seriously injured. Compensation was later paid by the Dublin government for the embassy The British whitewashed all inquiries into the massacre

Death of John O'Mahony

On Feb. 6, 1877 - John O'Mahony, the Irish born Fenian founder and leader, died in New York City

Irish Free State Censorship

On Feb 12, 1930 - the 26-county Irish Free State appointed  the first  Censorship Board

Gerry Adams Declares Victory

On Feb. 12, 1999 - A new political storm raged after Provo's  president Gerry Adams predicted that  Ireland would be reunited  in 15 years time

Irish Economy

On Feb. 12,  1998 -  it was stated that Ireland  (26 counties) had the economic muscle  to outstrip both Germany and France.

 On Feb 1, 2009 -  it was announced that the economies of Ireland (32 counties), Iceland and Latvia are totally broke.

Patrick Finucane murdered

On Feb. 12,  1989 -  Patrick Finucane who acted as solicitor for republican hunger striker Bobby Sands was shot dead by pro-British gunmen at his north Belfast home in front of his wife and children

58 Die in Ballroom fire

On Feb. 14, 1981 - the Stardust Ballroom in Artane, Dublin went up in flames.  48 young people were killed and more than 100 were injured

La Mon Bombing

On Feb. 17, 1978 - An IRA incendiary bomb exploded at the La Mon entertainment complex in Comber Co. Down. It kills 12 people and injures 30 others.

‘Ulster will fight and Ulster will be right.’

On Feb. 22,  1886 -  Lord Randolph Churchill delivered his inflammatory speech at the Ulster Hall in Belfast declaring that ‘Ulster will fight and Ulster will be right.’ That sentiment holds true till this day in the British Occupied Counties.

British Army Barracks Bombed

On Feb.  22, 1972 - the Official IRA bombed a British army barracks at Aldershot Surrey, killing five women and a Roman Catholic army priest. A further 19 were injured and one died later

Roger Casement remains returned to Ireland 

On Feb. 23, 1965 - the body of Irish patriot, Roger Casement was returned from England where he was hanged. He was re-interred at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin

Birmingham Six Conviction  Overturned

On F.eb 23, 1991 -  Alan Green, the British Director of Public Prosecution s announced that the convictions of the Birmingham Six, could not be upheld.  Hugh Callaghan, Patrick Hill, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlvenny, William Power and John Walker, all innocent victims  of British justice, served 16 years in prison.

Hostile Reception for Henry Kissinger In Cork

On Feb. 27, 2002 - Henry Kissinger, self styled peacekeeper and former US. Secretary of State  got a very hostile reception  from over 400 angry students when he visited University College Cork

(Click here for the 12 months)

The Shell-to-Sea Campiagn in North Mayo

The Corrib gas project entails exploiting a natural gas deposit off the northwest coast of Ireland. The field is located about 80 km off Erris Head in County Mayo, in water depths of 355 meters. The natural gas field, discovered in 1996, was the first reported commercial natural gas discovery in Ireland since the Kinsale Head gas field in 1973. Reserves in the field are believed to be about 30 billion cubic meters (1 trillion ft³) 70% the volume of the Kinsale field. -- continue

Related videos  -----  (Maura Harrington)  (Mary & Willie Corduff)

(Pat O'Donnell)

Former Hunger Stiker Calls on Adams to Resign from Sands Trust

Former Hunger Striker Gerard Hodgins has called upon Gerry Adams to resign from the Bobby Sands Trust in light of his actions surrounding the accusations against his brother, Liam Adams. The Sands Trust is currently run out of the Sinn Fein offices on the Falls Road, and its members are Gerry Adams, Danny Morrison, Tom Hartley, Jim Gibney, Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane, Sile Darragh, Caral Ni Chuilin, and Peter Madden (Madden and Finucane represent the Trust) Hartley, Morrison and Adams have been on the Trust since its inception.

The Sands family have rejected the Trust and have publicly called for it to be wound up. “We came to look closer at the Trust and in turn were concerned at the lack of control or accountability”, said one family source. “There were no records of minutes etc. or proper accounts and it was debatable if they ever functioned as a Trust but rather as an extension of SF.” --- continue

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 True Path to Irish Reunification, Éire Nua

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

This article  was published in the San Francisco based

 'Irish Herald'  in July 2009

Fenian Graves

Patrick Henry O'Rorke (1836 -1863)

Colonel Patrick Henry O'Rorke, a Union officer in the American Civil War, saw action in Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.  One of the first Irish-born cadets appointed the West Point Military Academy, O’Rorke’s leadership and bravery earned him a place among the heroes of the Civil War.  Mortally wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg, O’Rorke played a pivotal role in preserving the unity of a nation founded on freedom from the oppression and tyranny of British colonial rule.

The intellect, determination and courage O’Rorke displayed throughout his short life continues to be an inspiration and source of pride for those of us who share his heritage.  He was a true patriot, deserving of a special place in our hearts and in the Fenian Graves Archives.

(Click here to continue)

Revealed: The full chilling story of how Gerry Adams lied to protect his paedophile brother - and helped him work with children
Adams knew of sex abuse allegations against his brother for over 20 years

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