10 April 1997 Edition
Easter commemorated in San Francisco
Distinguished labour leader and former US ambassador to New Zealand Jack Henning addressed a crowd of 150 people at an Easter commemoration in San Francisco at the grave site of Thomas Desmond.
In 1876, Desmond sailed from San Francisco to Western Australia to aid a mass escape of Fenian prisoners from Fremantle prison. The Easter commemoration at his grave site is a San Francisco tradition. At the commemoration, the 1916 Easter Proclamation and the IRA's 1997 Easter message were read, along with an Easter greeting from senior Sinn Féin representatives.
Other speakers included John McKinney, brother of William McKinney who was murdered by British forces on Bloody Sunday. The march to the grave site was led by the Pearse-Connolly Band, who provided music for the event. The commemoration was organised by the Thomas Desmond Memorial Committee and San Francisco Irish Northern Aid.
Mr McKinney also spoke at a subsequent Easter Breakfast organised by the Ulster Gaelic Club. All proceeds from the breakfast will go to support the families of Irish POWs.
In 1876, Desmond sailed from San Francisco to Western Australia to aid a mass escape of Fenian prisoners from Fremantle prison. The Easter commemoration at his grave site is a San Francisco tradition. At the commemoration, the 1916 Easter Proclamation and the IRA's 1997 Easter message were read, along with an Easter greeting from senior Sinn Féin representatives.
Other speakers included John McKinney, brother of William McKinney who was murdered by British forces on Bloody Sunday. The march to the grave site was led by the Pearse-Connolly Band, who provided music for the event. The commemoration was organised by the Thomas Desmond Memorial Committee and San Francisco Irish Northern Aid.
Mr McKinney also spoke at a subsequent Easter Breakfast organised by the Ulster Gaelic Club. All proceeds from the breakfast will go to support the families of Irish POWs.