A Letter from America

a Chara,

Last week Ciarán answered a few questions from readers regarding Irish identity and Irish Unity. We received great feedback – if you missed it, you can read it here.

This week I’d like to share some thoughts on another popular question we received from many readers who want to get involved and play a part – “What can I do?”

This is a historic moment in the history of Ireland, and the path to a new and united Ireland has never been clearer. 

In Ireland, The Commission on the Future of Ireland is hosting People’s Assemblies all over the island, while organizations like Ireland’s Future and ARINS (Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South) are conducting research and releasing reports on the constitutional, economic, and legal perspectives. Work is being done in universities, labor unions, and by many political parties.

For supporters of Irish Unity in North America, there have never been more ways or opportunities to get involved. 

Here are some ways to play a role:

1 – Irish Unity People’s Assembly for the Diaspora: Over the next couple of months, we’ll be hosting People’s Assemblies in San Francisco, CA, Hartford, CT, Boston, MA, and Philadelphia, PA. If you are able to attend one of these events, you’ll not only receive an update on the latest developments from John Finucane MP or Mairéis Farrell TD, but you’ll work in small groups with other activists in attendance to help shape the conversation. Reports from these events are shared with the Commission on the Future of Ireland so that the perspectives and questions from the Irish diaspora and Irish living in North America making these events a key channel in the work of preparing for Irish unity.

2 – Irish Unity Education Webinar Series: starting Saturday, August 30, we’ll be hosting a monthly webinar focused on a different aspect of the work being done to achieve a new and united Ireland. These are free events, and open to everyone, and they provide an opportunity to learn directly from scholars, activists, and leaders who are leading the way. You can register for these events below.

3 – Get your organization involved: Are you a member of the AOH/LAOH or the IAUC? Do you belong to a union? Are you a member of your city’s Irish Network or club? This is a great place to start. Some of these organizations have national statements about unity and have structures in place to help you organize a working group or committee. Others do not yet have such a structure, which could be a great place to start. Find out what your fellow members know and think about Irish Unity and consider starting a study group, letter writing committee, or activist body to advocate with local and regional leaders.

4 – Help spread the word: Friends of Sinn Féin is not a membership organization, but we do provide a great deal of information, news, updates, analysis, and organize events from coast to coast. Be sure you are following us on all of our social media channels, and share and comment on our posts. Forward this email to 5 friends and encourage them to sign up for themselves. If you have friends or family in cities where we will be hosting events, let them know and tell them they should bring a group. 

These are just a few ideas for ways to be a part of this historic moment. Support from Irish America is a vital piece of the puzzle, and we all have a role to play.

I hope to see you at an event or on a call soon!

Mise le mas,

Greg O’Loughlin

Greg O’Loughlin is the Executive Director of Friends of Sinn Féin

Ciarán Quinn is the Sinn Féin Representative to North America