11 April 2013
AOH annual trip to Ireland
Members of the AOH and the Ladies AOH made their annual trip to Ireland this year from the United States in a show of solidarity with the Irish people.
The solidarity that the orgnisation show however has a practical edge as both the AOH and Ladies AOH raise money in the United States that they donate to various groups who are still at the sharp edge of the fight for justice.
Among those to benefit from the AOH/LAOH fund-raising efforts are Relatives for Justice, whose advocacy of the rights of people killed by British state forces and their surrogates is well-known.
As well as RFJ, groups such as An Cumann Cabhrach, National Graves Association and ex-prisoners’ groups Coiste na nIarchim and Tar Anall also benefit from the sterling work of the US-based organisations.
This year, two special presentations were made. The first was to the O'Neill/Allsopp Republican Flute band from the New Lodge area of Belfast. The AOH/LAOH recognised the work with young people being carried out by the band.
Also recognised was Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh and the work he has done in writing a book mapping the development of the Irish language in the prisons, particularly Long Kesh, and the effect this had on the promotion of the language within the nationalist population. He hopes to travel to the United States to launch the book.
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