Capitol Hill.
Thursday, March 24, 2011—“
There was a time the only
way Fr. Mc Manus would have
gotten into Dublin Castle
was in chains, in the
dungeon.”
Thus spoke an
Irish-American journalist
when told Fr Mc Manus would
be launching and signing
his newly published Memoirs
in Dublin Castle on Tuesday,
April 5, 2011 at 6:30 PM.
The
Dublin Castle event is the
first in a series of
launches of My American
Struggle for Justice
in Northern Ireland
(Collins Press. Cork).
The
others are as follows:
Belfast: Saturday, April 9,
2011 at 2 PM. Cultúrlann 216
Falls Road.
Bellaghy: Sunday,
April 10 at 7 PM. Wolfe
Tones, GAA grounds,
Enniskillen:
Thursday, April. 14, 2011.
Library. 8PM.
While Belfast and
Enniskillen are obvious
venues some have expressed
surprise at the Bellaghy
venue -- a rather small
area.
“ That’s because I
have a special connection to
Bellaghy -- the home of two
dead Hunger Strikers:
Francis Hughes (May 12,
1981) and Tom Mc Elwee
(August 8, 1981) who were
first cousins of each
other,” explained Fr Mc
Manus. “ On May 30,1981 the
Irish National Caucus
brought Francis’ brother
Oliver to Washington and
later brought out Mrs. Mc
Elwee, Tom’s mother”.
Fr Mc Manus continued:
“When Oliver, now an
Independent Republican
Councilor, heard about my
Memoirs, he did me the great
honor of sponsoring my visit
to Bellaghy. I greatly look
forward to seeing the Hughes
and the Mc Elwees”.
The
Belfast launch is being
sponsored by Relatives for
Justice. Fr. Mc Manus
expressed great appreciation
for Mark Thompson and Clare
Reilly,two leaders of the
sponsoring group. One of the
speakers will be Raymond Mc
Cord. The event is also
being strongly supported by
the Ballymurphy Massacre
Committee. Fr Mc Manus
recently helped to arrange
their participation in a
Congressional Hearing.
