Doherty lays out SF position at Noraid dinner
by Dennis M. Prebensen
``The objective remains the same: a united, independent Ireland''
Thus Pat Doherty, Vice President of Sinn Féin, summarised the
Republican Movement's position on the Good Friday Agreement's
strained and sometimes torturous process of implementation.
Doherty gave the main address to the capacity crowd at the 28th
Annual Irish Northern Aid Testimonial Dinner, held last Friday in New
York City. The dinner honoured three people who have devoted many
years of tireless, unselfish work in support of peace and justice in
Ireland: Jimmy Campbell, Kathleen Curtin, and Andy Fernandez,
longtime Treasurer of the Hartford Unit of INA.
It was an evening for threes with three Congresspersons, three
honourees, and three special remembrances.
Representative Ben Gilman, Chair of the House Committee on
International Affairs, joined longtime friends Congreeman Peter King
and newly elected Congressman Joe Crowley on the dais.
Paul Doris, National Chairperson of Irish Northern Aid, called upon
those gathered for the Dinner to remember three special people, all
of whom passed away over the course of the past year. The three,
Barney McKeon, Fr Maurice Burke, and Paul O'Dwyer, were each was born
in Ireland, but became well known and loved Americans
Pat Doherty spoke of the periods of crisis and tension in the ongoing
peace process. ``Obstacles that seemed insurmountable and problems
portrayed as insoluble have been overcome,'' he said. ``There is real
commitment to progress and change.''
He reflected on ``the absolute determination and unflinching
commitment to our Republican strategy for peace.'' The framework set
by Republicans when they started on the road to peace was firmly
based on the Republican ideals and goals. Despite all the turns and
bumps in the road, ``the objective remains the same: a united,
independent Ireland.''
Doherty praised the work and involvement of Irish America and
President Clinton in this process. Your ``involvement is still an
absolute cornerstone of the peace process,'' he told the audience. He
called for continued American support to push the process along.
``We urgently need the positive pressure of the Irish American
community to be kept up, to be increased, to prevent any further
slippage in the program to secure... real change in Ireland. We have to
put the issue of Ireland, and the real causes of conflict at the top
of the international media agenda,'' he proclaimed.
Sinn Féin is again fighting the attempts by the Unionists to shut out
Republicans from the new government. This has been the pattern of
Unionist efforts over the past number of months since the Agreement
came into being. It is even more critical today.
Time and time again, the Unionist have been able to stall setting up
of the Executive.
Doherty told the several hundred people that he believes that the
Unionists will not be able to get the two governments to abandon the
Good Friday Document. ``The next steps in the implementation of the
Good Friday Agreement are clearly visible,'' he continued. ``The
executive must be established and the all-Ireland Ministerial Council
must be set up.''
The dreams and hopes of the people of Ireland are wrapped up in the
Agreement, Doherty explained. The votes on the referenda last May
show that the future of Ireland lies in peace and justice. ``The
Agreement, its institutions and propositions covering policing, human
rights and equality are critical parts of the peace process. The old
ways of domination and exclusion will not work.''
``We need our friends more than ever...'' he declared. As Ireland moves
into the new millennium, there is continued role for Irish Northern
Aid. ``There are still prisoners in jail in Ireland, England and the
United States. The optimism and hope of the peace process and what we
have achieved through it does not mean that we forget the suffering
and sacrifice that many republicans have borne and still bear. [The
families of the victims of the conflict] have only people like you to
ease their burden.''
``It has never been easy to be a Republican,'' Doherty said, ``but, it
has been an honour to share that proud designation with our friends
here in America.''
The honourees
KATHLEEN CURTIN
Born into a Kerry family with a long Republican heritage, Kathleen
grew up hearing stories of the atrocities committed by British Black
and Tans. Her grandfather, Denis, was a member of the old IRA.
For many years, Kathleen attended commemorations, wearing an original
`paper lily' since before she learned to walk. Her father sold the
lilies outside church every Good Friday. Later she would accompany
him as he drove to Tralee to pick up An Phoblacht each week for
distribution in Kerry. Kathleen's father is now a Sinn Féin
Councillor in Listowel, County Kerry, her home town.
Kathleen became involved during the Hunger Strikes. Before she came
to the United States in 1985, she was a frequent visitor of prisoners
in Portlaoise. In the early 1980s, she became the first woman to hold
the position of Secretary of the Gaelic Football Club in Kerry.
Kathleen is now Manager of Niles Restaurant at the Southgate Hotel in
Manhattan. She has three brothers, Denis, Tony (a New York City
policeman), and Gerard.
JIMMY CAMPBELL
A native of County Mayo, Jimmy has lived in the United States since
1954. He is the owner of ``Shamrock Stables.'' A former driver of Horse
drawn Carriages, Jimmy maintains a key interest in protecting the
heritage of horses in New York City.
The Campbell family has a long history of activism against British
repression in Ireland, dating from 450 years ago when the British
settlers were given the family lands of the Campbells, the Maguires,
the O'Donnells and others in East Tyrone and North West Armagh.
Jimmy has carried on the long time family tradition of working to
secure freedom for his homeland and to end British repression in
Ireland. Two uncles of his were active in the Republican campaigns in
England during the 1930s and 1940s.
One of the most popular and genuinely nice people involved in
Republican activity in America, Jimmy Campbell continues working for
the freedom of Ireland.
ANDY FERNANDEZ
The son of Portuguese immigrants who came to this country during
World War One and worked in iron foundries and textile mills to make
a better life for their children, Andy is a veteran of World War II
and graduated from the University of Connecticut.
dy's wife, Maureen is from the Markets area of Belfast. They have
two children, three grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter,
Stephanie.
He joined Irish Northern Aid in 1979 and served with distinction as
Treasurer of the Hartford, Connecticut unit for seventeen years. He
prepared a book on the history of the north of Ireland in the late
1980s. Andy also published a monthly newsletter with news from the
north. He remains an active writer to the prisoners.
dy and Maureen became good friends with Joe Doherty and his family
during the 1980s and they hosted members of Joe's family during their
frequent trips to the United States. They remain good friends of the
Doherty family.
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