Ireland’s Future Speaker – Andrée Murphy
When traveling for my first Ancient Order of Hibernians Freedom for All Ireland Tour in the North of Ireland, I had the pleasure to listen to a presentation from Andrée Murphy on The Impact of the Troubles on Women. Andrée is a fantastic speaker. I always hoped that she could one day come to Cleveland to speak.
In November, my cousin Rita O’Hara, the LAOH Deputy National Chair of the Freedom for All Ireland Committee, heard from Andrée that she would be traveling to Ohio for a speaking engagement in Columbus. Rita invited her to come to Cleveland. Andrée welcomed the invitation since her son, Peador Thompson spoke highly of his visit to Cleveland this past March on his Lost Gael Book Tour.
Rita and I started immediately to plan for Andrée’s visit. For us the highlight of her visit would be to have her speak to the Irish Community of Cleveland. I approached the West Side Irish American Club to request that this event be held at the Club, especially since the group effort of the West Side Irish American Club, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Cleveland GAA and iIrish this past March with the Lost Gaels Book Tour was so successful.
President Dan Chambers was very appreciative that the Club would be the venue for this event. Along with the West Side Irish American Club, I reached out to have the support of the Hibernians, Cleveland GAA and iIrish newsmagazine. We are so honored to have such wonderful organizations in Cleveland that support one another.
I would like to invite everyone to hear Andrée Murphy, Board Member of Ireland’s Future and Deputy Director of Relatives for Justice on Sunday February 1 at 6 pm at the West Side Irish American Club in Olmsted Township. This event is being held on the Feast of St. Brigid, a Woman of Peace.
Andrée Murphy is a woman whose life as focused on peace and justice. I have had the opportunity to meet Andree Murphy several times over the past few years and now am proud to call her my friend.
I want to share with you some more information on this remarkable woman. She is a distinguished human rights advocate, respected commentator, and a leading voice in the ongoing civic conversation about Ireland’s future.
Andrée is originally from Dublin and now resides in Belfast. She is the Deputy Director of Relatives for Justice and a leading voice on issues of legacy, victims’ rights, and constitutional change. She has spent more than twenty years working with families bereaved or injured during the Troubles. Her experience in advocating for victims before international bodies, including the United Nations, provides a global context for the challenges that still face the North of Ireland today.
In addition to her extensive work in human rights, she is widely recognized for her role as a Board Member of Ireland’s Future, the civic organization at the center of promoting dialogue and planning around possible constitutional change for a new and United Ireland.
Andrée is a respected journalist, writing regularly for the Belfast Media Group. As a prominent political commentator, she is a frequent contributor across radio and television, focusing on legacy issues, policing, human rights, the Good Friday Agreement architecture, Brexit, and the political participation of women. She has represented victims and human rights interests before bodies including the United Nations Committee Against Torture in Geneva and U.S. Congressional hearings.
Come out to the West Side Irish American Club on Sunday February 1 at 6 pm to hear for yourself why Andrée Murphy is regarded as one of the most thoughtful and influential civic voices in Ireland. Through her work in human rights, her public commentary, and her leadership within Ireland’s Future, she continues to help shape a public conversation grounded in justice, compassion, and the shared hopes of the Irish people for a New and United Ireland.
For more information on the event please email me at memadigan@gmail.com.
