A Letter from Ireland
a Chara,
I am writing to you from Boston, where we have been snowed in, and our flights home have been cancelled.
Getting caught up in a storm seems like the perfect metaphor for this trip. We began with a series of engagements in Washington with supporters and congressional offices.
At that stage, the focus of the conversation was on Greenland and the threat of invasion from President Trump and its knock-on impact on the EU and Ireland. It seems so surreal to be writing about the US considering invading a European and NATO ally. But these are the times in which we live. By the end of the week in Washington, the immediate threat had subsided.
The relationship between the US and the EU is being redefined by tariffs and changing policy. The recently published National Security Strategy recognises the special relationship between the US and Ireland, but lays out a new approach to Europe to which Ireland is an integral part. The outworking of that strategy is not clear, and old assumptions and ways of working are no longer valid. The EU will have to redefine its relationship with the US and the rest of the world.
Ireland will be caught up in this storm. As political and trade relations are changing, it was comforting that the real and special relationship between Ireland and Irish America remains strong. Congressional support for Ireland, our peace agreement and Irish Unity is both bipartisan and resilient. It is with the company of friends that we find shelter in the storm.
This was evident in our meetings on the hill, with supporters new and old and with labour leaders in Washington.
On leaving Washington, I travelled to New England for an event to mark the anniversary of Bloody Sunday. I met up with Sinn Féin councillor and Bloody Sunday Trust board member, Aisling Hutton.
In Rhode Island, Aisling updated supporters on the campaign to achieve justice for those killed on the streets of Derry in 1972. Aisling acknowledged the role played by Irish Americans in holding the British to account and the ongoing support for the bereaved families.
The following day, we travelled to Springfield, Massachusetts, for a showing of the documentary, “Gerry Adams a Ballymurphy Man” hosted by Rep. Richard Neal. After the screening, I took part in a panel discussion with Rep. Neal, chaired by my good friend Billy Tranghese. The discussion focused on the role played by Irish America in progressing the cause of peace, the protection of the Good Friday Agreement and in securing Irish Unity.
Then came the storm. An event planned for Hartford the following day had to be abandoned, and we headed to Boston.
We live in turbulent times. This week has demonstrated that with good friends, we can and will come out the other end. I want to thank all those who took time out in Washington to meet with us, and in particular those in Rhode Island, Springfield and Hartford who looked after us so well.
Have a great weekend,
