Our ‘exiled children in America’ mark 1916 centenary

MAINTAINING a tradition of historical links with organisations in the United States supportive of the Sinn Féin strategy towards achieving a united Ireland, Monaghan Councillor Seán Conlon undertook a multiple city tour in the US as an invited guest to events commemorating Easter 1916.

Commencing in Chicago on Good Friday, he participated in a tour of sites associated with the rich heritage of Irish patriotism and ethnic identity in that city, including a life-size bronze statue of James Connolly at Union Park, marking the occasion of the legendary trade union organiser’s visit to the city in 1909.

Also impressive were the monuments dedicated to Clan na Gael and their role in supporting the cause for Irish freedom spanning over a century, Seán Conlon said.

On Saturday, he attended as a guest on two separate Irish community radio shows and later that evening attended as keynote speaker at the annual Clan na Gael Easter Rising Commemoration & Honourees event.

Proclamation

On Sunday it was to New York City that Councillor Conlon arrived to speak that afternoon at the annual Clan na Gael/Irish Northern Aid Annual Easter Sunday Commemoration at Calvary Cemetery in Queens.

At the famed Fenian Plot, he reminded the significant number of people there that the goal of uniting Ireland and the role of “her exiled children in America”, as declared in the Proclamation, is as relevant today as it was a hundred years ago.

At noon on Easter Monday, on Long Island, New York, and in the company of Irish Northern Aid stalwart Paddy Dolan, Councillor Conlon was invited to the platform among several dozen Nassau County elected representatives and government officials.

In his address he recalled the sacrifices of the brave men and women of 1916 and stressed that their vision of building an Ireland of equals, as stated in the Proclamation, is a priority objective for Sinn Féin. Following on from the formalities, a meet and greet opportunity (a recurring feature throughout the visit) created the opportunity to discuss political developments in Ireland and to meet with many who had connections to Monaghan.

America’s independence

The latter end of the trip was in Philadelphia, the birthplace of America’s independence from England.

Media interest included invitations to two Irish community radio shows, hosted separately by Mike Concannon and Vince Gallagher, and meet with the editor of an online Irish publication. A prominent line of interest was the recent Dáil elections and the failure of the larger parties being unable to agree terms of forming a government. On an invitation from Philadelphia AOH Division 39, Seán Conlon attended a meeting where following his address a lengthy Q&A session took place.

The last major event of this phase of the trip was attending as guest speaker at the annual Joe McGarrity/Luke Dillon/Dan Cahalane Commemoration at their respective burial plots in Holy Cross Cemetery. 

Included in his address that reflected on the phases of struggle over many generations and decades, as well as the tragedies associated with conflict, Councillor Seán Conlon emphasised that the path towards achieving Irish unity can be secured through peaceful means and that Sinn Féin, with its continuously increasing mandate, is the only political party with the will and determination to secure it.

● Councillor Seán Conlon with Irish Immigration & Pastoral Centre Co-ordinator Leslie Alcock

Immigration reform

Prior to his departure, the Sinn Féin councillor visited the Irish Immigration & Pastoral Centre of Philadelphia which serves as a community hub for Irish immigrants and their families throughout the region.

Topics discussed with Centre Co-ordinator Leslie Alcock included the stalled progress of US Government immigration reform that is having a negative impact on tens of thousands of Irish citizens seeking to regularise their residency status in the US and the urgency required from stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic to resolve the issue.