Irish National Caucus: July 2012

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

IRISH DANCING, MUSIC… AND FR. MC MANUS

Pat Dwyer (seated), Barbara Flaherty and Moira Reilly

The author with nephews Gerard and Sean Mc Manus

The Author with Mary Holt Moore

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NEW YORK FEIS

CAPITOL HILL. JULY 15, 2012 --- It may have been a coincidence, but it was nonetheless very meaningful to Fr. Sean Mc Manus: the day he appeared at the Rockland County Feis , July 15, was the 54th. Anniversary of his brother Patrick’s death, July 15, 1958.

Fr. Mc Manus -- president of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus -– was there to promote the American Edition of his Memoirs, My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland. The book is dedicated to the memory of his patriot brother Patrick who was killed “ on active service with the IRA” in the 1956-1962 IRA Campaign, often called The Border Campaign.
Fr. Mc Manus said:“It was very powerful and beautiful to me that Patrick was prayed for during the Mass at the Feis. I am deeply grateful to Mrs. Pat Dwyer, Chairlady, who invited and encouraged me to attend. She is a wonderful lady, a great leader and a superb organizer. My old friend and Fermanagh neighbor Mattie Reilly and his wife Moira could not have been more gracious and helpful. And I was delighted to see another old friend, John Foody.”

Fr. Mc Manus concluded: “I am deeply touched by how much people love my book. I am regularly told that they have read it several times. And now the American Edition -- with 50 more pages and 22 more photos, bringing the story right up to 2012 – is even more popular than the Irish Edition (the first edition published in 2011). Another nice thing is that not one person has been able to point out one factual error in the entire book. They just know it is truthful and authentic. I was very honored that the great Bill Flynn, Chairman Emeritus, Mutual of America, declared, “ The book’s authenticity is its crowning glory.”

Friday, July 13, 2012

FR. MC MANUS AT AOH-LAOH CONVENTION 38 YEARS LATER

Fr. Sean Mc Manus, Fr. John Ahern and Barbara Flaherty

“ Fr. Sean Mc Manus electrified the National Conventiyn.”

That was former AOH National President, the late Jack Keane, speaking about the 1974 AOH-LAOH National convention in Anaheim, California.
Thirty eight years later Fr. Mc Manus was back at the 2012 National Convention in Verona , NY to promote his Memoirs that cover those years,  and longer.

“ I was delighted to attend, courtesy of the Convention Chairman, Liam Mc Nabb,” explained the Fermanagh-born priest who is president of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus.
“ There is great AOH-LAOH interest in my book,” he continued. “ I am deeply touched by their support and very grateful for the graciousness and friendship with which I was received. I am especially grateful for all the kindness and support of Fr. John Ahern, National Chaplain .

The American Edition of the book, “ My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland,” was published in June 2012.  It is fifty pages longer and has 22 more photos than the first edition published in Ireland 2011.

“ I am amazed by how much people like it,” Fr. Mc Manus confessed. “ It has somehow touched a deep cord. For better or worse, it is the only Memoirs that covers the past forty years of trying to get the U.S. Congress to stand up for Irish justice. And, for better or worse, no one else – and certainly no Catholic priest – has devoted forty years of his life working on Capitol Hill for justice, which the Catholic Church teaches is “ a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel.”

Barbara Flaherty, prime promoter of the book, and also a LAOH delegate from Division 9, Washington, DC said : “ I was proud to be part of my Division’s delegation. And I am most grateful for their enthusiastic support of the book. They have found it to be an invaluable resource.”

Sunday, July 01, 2012

NEW YORK WELCOMES AMERICAN EDITION OF MY AMERICAN STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE IN NORTHERN IRELAND

On Thursday, June 28TH, O'Lunney's in Times Square hosted the New York Launch of the American Edition of Fr. Mc Manus's Memoirs, My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland.
The audience listened attentively as Fr. Sean discussed his "Struggle." He stressed that it was non-Irish and non-Catholics who helped him the most. And those whom he had assumed would help him the most--big time Irish politicians like Tip O'Neill and Teddy Kennedy--not only did not help but actively blocked his efforts! Irish Echo editor, Ray O'Hanlon, whom Fr. Sean describes on page 283 of the American Edition as "the most professionally objective journalist I've ever known" told the audience, "When I finished the First Edition, it left me with the feeling of wanting more--always a good sign of any book. And now, with the American Edition, Fr. Mc Manus has given us more. Fr. Mc Manus's book is of extraordinary importance. It has already served a vital purpose. However, it will be even more important with the passing of time. Remember this: there is a dearth of primary sources on Irish-American activity relating to Northern Ireland. There are a number of books on the subject, but there is only one primary source on keeping the Congress involved. That is Fr. Mc Manus's Memoirs."
Barbara Flaherty, Executive Vice President of the Irish National Caucus, said, "The First Edition which is the Irish Edition is hailed as 'A Masterpiece, a Classic, and a Must Read.' This American Edition is bigger and better than the First Edition. Being the American Edition, it has 50 more pages and 22 more photos. And anytime an edition has 50 more pages, that is a significant change. ... It is unlikely that there will ever be another book like this because no one else, and certainly no other Catholic priest has done has done what Fr. Sean has done for forty years for justice and peace in Northern Ireland. The book is a great read."