Irish-Americans Elated by McAleese Victory

            

            Washington, D.C., October 31, 1997 -- Irish-Americans are delighted by the election of Mary McAleese as President of Ireland.  They see her as a vindication of the peace-process and as cause for more hope for Northern Ireland.

             Fr. Sean McManus, President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus, said, "As a Fermanagh man, I'm deeply proud that a Northern woman has become President of Ireland.  Irish-Americans are elated.  We see Mary's election as a victory over those malicious anti-Northern elements in the South that tried to smear her and thereby retard progress in the North.  Mary's election is a victory for the peace-process.  It means that the North will now be more visible than ever to the international community.  It gives us further hope that a just and lasting solution will be achieved.  Peace and reconciliation are, therefore, made more possible by the election of this outstanding woman from the North," he concluded.

 

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