Capitol
Hill. Sunday, January 10, 2011
--- The Irish in the greater
Washington, DC area have rallied
together to form the
“Washington Irish Committee” for
the launching and signing of Fr.
Mc Manus’s Memoirs: My American
Struggle for Justice in Northern
Ireland.
The
Memoirs will be published in
Ireland in March by Collins
Press, Cork, and the Washington
launching is on Sunday, May 1,
2011 • 2-4 PM • Phoenix Park
Hotel • 520 North Capitol St. NW
• Washington, D.C. 20001 (across
from Union Station, which also
has ample parking).
Chairperson of the Washington
Irish Committee, Mrs. Barbara J.
Flaherty, said: “This is a
hugely important book. It is
probably the most significant
Memoirs in the historiography of
Irish-American nationalism since
Recollections of an Irish Rebel
by John Devoy (1929).
Indeed,
the former Chairman of the House
International Relations
Committee (Foreign Affairs) Ben
Gilman stated before leaving
Congress in 2003, “I believe
historians will record that no
one since John Devoy (1842-1928)
has done more to organize
American pressure for justice in
Ireland. (The only difference
being that Father Mc Manus – in
keeping with his priestly
calling - is committed to
nonviolence).”
Mrs.
Flaherty explained: “Fr. Mc
Manus’s Memoirs is replete with
primary sources, illuminating
insights into how the United
States Congress dealt with the
Irish issue, and fascinating
details on how-- against all
odds-- he persevered and
prevailed. Nobody else could
have written such a book because
simply no one has ever done what
Fr. Mc Manus has done (for
almost 40 years) on Capitol Hill
for justice in Ireland”.
Mrs.
Flaherty stressed she was proud
that the Irish Echo is the
co-sponsor of the event, and
quoted the Editor, Ray O’ Hanlon
and the Publisher, Mairtin O’
Muilleoir, whom both issued
statements about the upcoming
Memoirs.
Mrs.
Flaherty concluded by expressing
deep appreciation for all the
excellent DC-area men and women
who are serving on the Executive
Committee, whose quotes appear
in the accompanying document: “
Enthusiastic Anticipation For
Fr. Mc Manus’s Memoirs”.
The
Committee’s first meeting will
be January 17, 2011 – by
invitation only.
Washington Irish Committee. P.O.
BOX 15128, Washington, DC.
20003-0849.
Tel. 202-544-0568(day);
301-651-3623(evening); Fax:
202-488-7537
barbara@irishnationalcaucus.org
