WASHINGTON, D.C. BOOK LAUNCH

PART ONE
FILMED BY BILL PRIBYL

WASHINGTON, D.C. LAUNCH

PART TWO
FILMED BY BILL PRIBYL

NY Ladies AOH and Men’s AOH Convention

RENEWED DEDICATION TO THE IRISH CAUSE

Barbara Flaherty enthusiastically shows off My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland
Ray O'Hanlon--Editor of Irish Echo and Gifted author of The South Lawn Plot-- with Barbara
Denise Sobus, in-coming NY State President of LAOH , proudly holds Memoirs

Friday, July 15, 2011 --- Nobody knows how to put on a Convention like the Ladies AOH and the Men’s AOH of the great State of New York.
That was amply demonstrated on July 13 and Thursday, July 14 as the State Convention opened (to continue until Sunday, July 17). The over 200 delegates gave an inspiring display of their continued dedication to the cause of Ireland both in America and in Ireland: maintaining the Catholic faith and culture here, and supporting justice and peace on the entire island of Ireland.
Fr. Sean Mc Manus was invited to address the delegates on his recently published Memoirs: My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland (Collins Press. Cork).
Fr. Mc Manus applauded the Ladies AOH, and their National President, Margaret Hennessy. He singled out for special praise, the National Secretary, Mary Hogan, a strong promoter of his book.
He explained: “ I was deeply honored to be invited to speak by the great Chip Mc Lean, NY State AOH President. I am deeply grateful for his leadership and dedication”.
Mr. Mc Lean’s term of office expired at the Convention. He wlll be succeeded by another excellent leader, Michael Mc Nab. Michael a nephew of the legendary AOH leader, Tom Mc Nabb, National President from 1978-1980. Tom has also been National Secretary for many years.
Fr. Mc Manus explained : “ As I state in my book, Tom Mc Nabb – with the late Jack Keane -- is one of the most important AOH leaders since the 1920’s. He showed great strength and leadership at a very tough time. He was put under huge pressure to withdraw his support of the Irish National Caucus. But he stood firm. I will never forget him for that. He deserves huge credit. I know his nephew, Michael, will continue the great Mc Nab tradition: dedication to the Catholic faith and to Irish-American tradition and culture – and to justice and peace in Ireland”.
Tom Mc Nabb’s son, Tom Jr, is President of Division # 1 in Auburn NY.
Equally, with the Ladiies AOH there will be changes in leadership. The new State President will be Denise Sobus, and the new National Treasurer will be Patricia O’ Connell, and the new National President will be Maureen Shelton. All three ladies expressed strong enthusiasm for Fr. Mc Manus’ book.
One of the speakers at the Convention was Sean Pender, New Jersey AOH State President.Fr. Mc Manus said: “ Sean is a new forceful leader on the Irish-
American scene, with whom I will be working closely. We are both committed to keeping Congress involved in the whole human rights area in Northern Ireland. Sean will do great work over the coming years. He is very well informed, has a lot of key contacts in Ireland and visits there regularly”.
Fr. Mc Manus continued:“ Dan Dennehy is another key man in the NY AOH. Like his father before him, Dan is a totally committees Irishman. A great guy who will also do great things in the years to come”.

CLIPS FROM THE CONVENTION

Fr. Sean enjoys the LAOH.

"The Book is the Mission and the Mission is the Book"
Fr. Sean informs LAOH/AOH

TOP TEN SUMMER READS

July 12, 2011.

CAHIR O' DOHERTY & BERNICE MALONE, Irish Voice Reporters

"My American Struggle For Justice in Northern Ireland"

by Father Sean McManus

Autobiography / Political

For over forty years Father Sean McManus has been at the heart of the Irish American campaign to put pressure on the British government concerning injustice in the North.

For years a lone voice on Capitol Hill, he became Britain’s “nemesis on the premises” when he founded the Irish National Caucus in one of the darkest years of the Troubles in 1974.

But how does a mild mannered priest, who grew up in Kinawley, County Fermanagh, become involved in American politics to promote the cause of Ireland? And how does he become so successful at it?

McManus forced through Congressional action to stop the sale of American weapons to the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC); he crafted the McBride Principles that led to fair employment practices in the reluctant North; and all the while he was he was opposed not just by the British, but often by the Irish governments too – and by pro-British elements within the Republican party.

Considering the challenges he faced and the lessons it taught him about the quest for justice in the North, the man who has been helping to craft the agenda for Irish America over the past thirty years has written a compelling inside view of the pursuit of peace and justice for Ireland"

END.

AOH to Present Mc Manus Memoirs to Congress

FR. Mc Manus addresses Ladies AOH and Men's AOH

July 15, 2011 --- The New York State Board of the AOH has formally announced it will present to every Member of the New York Congressional Delegation (29 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives two U.S. Senators) a signed copy of Fr. Sean Mc Manus’ Memoirs : My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland ( Collins Press Cork).

The outgoing President of the NY AOH, the popular and widely respected Chip Mc Lean, announced the initiative at the Ladies AOH and Mens’ AOH convention in Pearl River, NY, on Thursday, July 14, 2011. The announcement was greeted with sustained applause.

When Fr. Mc Manus was introduced to give a keynote speech, he was given a resounding standing ovation by the 200 hundred guests.He praised the Ladies AOH, singling out the National Secretary, Mary Hogan who has given strong support for Fr. Mc Manus’ work and is an enthusiastic promoter of his Memoirs.

Barbara Flaherty – the main publicist for the book – said : “ It was wonderful to see how Fr. Mc Manus’ speech was received. The delegates were clearly very moved, and kept saying so throughout the day as they bought signed-personalized copies of the book”

She continued: “ This is a very important initiative by the AOH. Presenting the book to all the NY Congressional Delegation sends a very clear message to Congress: The AOH expects their Representatives and Senators to be fully informed on the struggle to get the U.S. Congress to stand up for Irish justice. And this book is the perfect tool for that. Fr. Mc Manus gives the real story on what Congress did, or failed to do over the past 40 years. It’s a cautionary tale for the U.S. Congress. And Irish-Americans must never allow Members of Congress to turn a blind eye( as some did in the past) to equality, justice and peace in Ireland. Therefore, promoting this special, unique book is the very best way to promote the Irish cause. In that sense, we can accurately say : “The book is the mission, and the mission is the book”.

LIAM MURPHY REVIEWS MEMOIRS

“ It is a very important book. It would be equally important even if it were not so entertaining a read at the same time… a virtual treatise on how to make Congress do the right thing, often against seemingly insurmountable odds, and then a President. It should be required reading in Political Science classes, right up there with Edwin O’ Connor’s The Last Hurrah, with Allen Drury’s Advise and Consent, and with William L. Riordan’s Plunkitt of Tammany Hall (especially the 1995 edition, with an introduction by Peter Quinn). In 130 minutes Jimmy Stewart tells the story of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”, a crusading story, spanning less than one year. In 261 pages Father Seán tells a story that spans almost 67 years, some 37 or so spent crusading on Capitol Hill, against opposition far more complex, and devious, that that faced in Frank Capra’s classic motion picture….

This review is entitled “Mo Scéal Féin” (My Own Story) because Father Seán is telling his own story - but his story is greater than himself, it is the story (with 15 pages of endnote documentation, for which future historians will be thankful) of making the American political system work, it is the story of mobilizing the forces of good to achieve a greater good (against seemingly impossible odds) in the non-violent quest for Peace with Justice for All Ireland. Go saoraidh Dia Éire!

Liam Ó Murchadha, do scrí

( Liam Murphy) NY.

Great Chicago Welcome for Fr. Sean

Dick Stanton and Mary Gorski
Jim Mc Donnell
Fr. Sean and Maureen O'Looney

Shannon Rovers Band

Monday, July 19, 2011—Chicago was true to form in its welcome for Fr. Sean Mc Manus.
In the Windy City for the launch of his widely hailed Memoirs, My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland ( Collins Press. Cork), Fr. Mc Manus was given a wonderful, generous welcome.
He spoke and signed books for two days, Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10 at the huge Irish Fest held at the Irish American Heritage Center.
The Fermanagh-born priest, President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus, said: “ I simply could not have asked for nicer or more friendly and helpful people. They made me feel totally welcome as if I were a Chicago resident”.
He went on to explain: “ The legendary Maureen O’ Looney, whom I have known for almost 40 years, got me the” best seat in the house – the most centrally located stall in the entire outside area, where our big book –banner was totally prominent .A very special moment came when the most impressive men and women of the Pipers and Drummers of the Shannon Rovers Band came and played Amazing Grace right in front of my book stall.( See photos).
Fr. Mc Manus went on to thank Mrs. Peig Reid, Librarian, of the Irish American Heritage Center, for inviting him to speak. He also paid special thanks to his long-time associate, Chicago arbitration- attorney Dick Stanton. “ Dick has a passionate interest in the Irish struggle for justice, and a keen intellectual awareness of all its history and complexities. He and Betty were a wonderful help”.

The intrepid Jim Mc Donnell, visiting from Division 1 AOH in Rockland County NY, (and known as “ The Voice”, because of his great speaking voice) was my pitchman. Sounding like Ed Mc Mahon of the famed Johnny Carson Show, Jim was constantly announcing on the public address system, “ Come on over and say hello to Fr. Mc Manus. He has written a great book. You all should read it”.
Fr. Mc Manus, who in the early years of his campaigning, had been to Chicago many times, but had not been back for about 15 years, recalled: “ Chicago had the reputation of the most fractious city on the Irish issue --- splits, counter- splits, then more splits. But on this occasion I did not meet with one negative reaction from among the thousands of people attending the Irish Fest. There was, however, one funny “ pretend-negative” response. An elderly Irish-born woman wagged her finger at me and in feigned indignation said, “ Fr. Mc Manus I have a most serious complaint about your book.” “What is it”, said I, playing along. She replied : “ My husband bought a copy yesterday and sat up reading it until 4 AM. You ruined my sex life”. I shot back, “ You should be thanking me for keeping that old Irishman from bothering you”. She doubled over laughing and ran off to tell her husband what I said.
There was also a somber, moving moment. A big quiet, shy, guy came up and asked me to sign a book to his parents. Then he paused, and said, “ Could you write something else on it, Father?” I said sure. “ Please write, “ Tom (not his real name) will be fine”.
I said that sounds like a prayer and a blessing “ Tom”.
He said it was and that his parents were very worried about him because he was going back on his fourth mission to Afghanistan – and on the previous three missions he had last a third of his team.
Sitting next to me was a very spiritual lady and she immediately asked him was he wearing a St. Michael medal (the defender against principalities and powers).
He immediately dug under the neck of his shirt, and, producing a medal, said, “ No. I am wearing a St. Gerard medal”. Being a Redemptorist, that immediately got my attention, and I pointed out the Redemptorist saint was the Patron Saint of pregnant mothers. He said, “ That’s why I am wearing it. When my mother was pregnant with me, the doctors told her she would lose her baby. She prayed night and day to St. Gerard and I was safely delivered”.
When I told him I was a Redemptorist, he was quite overcome and said, “ My Mother will now know God brought me here today”. I said a prayer with him and he went off with a spring in his step.
For some reason I found the moment most poignant. Whatever one thinks of wars or why they happen, on the ground -level there is the individual soldier/civilian who is trying to do his duty, and hoping he will come out of it alive”.
END.

MC Manus Memoirs Goes into Second Print

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Collins Press, Cork, is going into a second print of, My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland.

The author, Fr. Sean Mc Manus, President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus, expressed his pleasure at the news: “ This is good news. I am very pleased.

I hoped the book would be appreciated once the word got out. Indeed, I have been surprised by all the positive and enthusiastic response”.

Barbara Flaherty – the main publicist for the book – said: “ I am delighted. We can hardly keep up with the demand for the book. We are getting numerous requests for more book launches nationwide – as have been held in Washington, Boston, New York City. And over the next week there will be the Chicago launch, and the Pearl River, NY, launch during the State AOH Convention…And then it’s on to Philadelphia, etc. etc.

This is a wonderful book.There is simply no other book like it. I am extremely pleased for Fr. Mc Manus that the book is being so well received. Indeed, I have always believed it will be made into a movie”.

Fr. Sean Mc Manus Goes to Chicago

FR. SEAN MC MANUS WILL HOLD THE CHICAGO LAUNCH OF HIS BOOK, MY AMERICAN STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE IN NORTHERN IRELAND (COLLINS PRESS, CORK), ON SATURDAY, JULY 9, AND SUNDAY, JULY 10, AT THE IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER--4626 NORTH KNOX AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL.

FR. MC MANUS WILL SPEAK, LECTURE AND SIGN HIS BOOK AT THE FAMOUS IRISH FEST HOSTED BY THE IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER OVER THE TWO DAY PERIOD.

THE BOOK IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM, BUT SIGNED COPIES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE IRISH NATIONAL CAUCUS.

THE BOOK IS HAILED AS " A MASTERPIECE", "A CLASSIC", "A MUST READ" AND "HUGELY IMPORTANT".

THE WASHINGTON IRISH COMMITTEE HAS STATED: "IT IS PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MEMOIRS IN THE HISTORIOGRAPHY OF IRISH-AMERICAN NATIONALISM SINCE RECOLLECTIONS OF AN IRISH REBEL BY JOHN DEVOY (1929).