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.
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)
NIFC CALENDAR
internal links
External
Links
EIRE NUA
CAMPAIGN
Click on
above image for
a slide show presentation
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
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.
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
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.
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 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 toAmerica
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
Republican
Sinn Féin today elected a new president to succeed
Ruairi O’Bradaigh, who has led the organization for more
than 20 years.
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. 
Many
people on the reservations have no heat in the winter,
and many communities rely solely on wood burning stoves
for heat.