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THE Annual Michael Flannery Testimonial Dinner was held on January 25 at the Astoria World Manor in Queens, NY. Honorees. Séamus Ó Dubhda and Mickey Whelan received the Michael Flannery Award and the James Connolly Award, respectively.Present was George Harrison, lifelong Republican and founder of Cumann Na Saoirse/NIFC as well as last year’s James Connolly Award winner and lifelong activist “Grandpa” Al Lewis. The new program director and other WBAI personnel were also present and received a standing ovation. Grace was said by Father Lucas, Chaplain at one of the largest penal institutions in the United States.
It was a most successful event marked by a larger turnout than organisers anticipated, along with a very successful ad-journal designed by Brian Mór Ó Baoighill.
The affair was emceed by Radio Free Éireann personalities John McDonagh and Brian Mór. Consequently the event was quite lively, covering many subjects including ongoing events in Ireland, especially the plight of the families of political prisoners. Radio Free Éireann’s own triumphant return to the spotlight on the recently-liberated WBAI was also celebrated.
Mike Costello, who presented Séamus Ó Dubhda with the Michael Flannery Award, spoke of the NIFC’s program of promotion of ÉIRE NUA in America, and the censorship applied as a result of the US government’s visa-denial policy which results in only the British-sponsored “peace process” being heard and the American public being denied the opportunity to compare it to an Irish process whereby the unionist and loyalist communities would experience real power in a four-province All-Ireland federation.
Séamus Ó Dubhda, this year’s Michael Flannery Award winner, spoke about the ongoing repression in Ireland as a result of the British presence, and how true Republicans have experienced this in the past, but have persevered and eventually will prevail.
Mickey Whelan organizer for Local 608, who was presented this year’s James Connolly Award by Joe Salvayon, reinforced the fact that as long as the British presence remains in Ireland, both the British and the Free State will be forced to rely on non-jury courts and other forms of extreme repression to maintain power, and that consequently, there will always be political prisoners in need of support.
Music was provided by the Fionnan Ó Sé Group from Pittsburgh.
Tickets were collected at the door by Bob Loughman.
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Web layout by SAOIRSE -- Irish Freedom February 11, 2002 Send links, events notifications, articles, comments etc, to the editor at: saoirse@iol.ie. |
