One Fateful Morning, I Shook Bold Freedom’s Hand
It is near two years now since we hosted the U.S. launch of The Commission on the Future of Ireland’s People’s Assembly for the Unification of Ireland. I cannot begin to fit in these pages all of the history altering progress that has been made over that time – and the pace and progress are increasing, to well beyond realistic expectations, given the progress made in the 800 years previous.
We were delighted back then (October 8th, 2024) to host such a significant and previously unseen milestones in the Irish fight for freedom. We have been blessed by God and country to help our community, both in perspective and in person, through volunteerism, and through financial support of more than $245,000 in donations to local and national charities since our 2006 inception ~ Yes, we also celebrate our 20th Anniversary in October.
The cause that called you may call tomorrow
In another fight for the green again
When Irishmen are proud and they’re glad, of the land where they were born.
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
Right proudly high over Dublin Town, the flung out the flag of war
That small nations might be free …
Both to and fro, in my dreams I go, and I kneel and pray for you
The angelus bell or the Liffey swell, rang out in the foggy dew.
I stood alone, where brave men perished
Those men have gone, their God to meet
Not for them a judge or jury or indeed a crime at all
Being Irish means they’re guilty, so they’re guilty one and all
Sixty rebels today bound for Botany Bay
How many will reach their receiver?
So then one fateful morning, I shook bold freedom’s hand
For right or wrong, I’d try to free my land …
And you dared to call me a terrorist while you looked down your gun
When I think of all the deeds that you had done …
… Ah, but sad and bitter was the year of 1981
For everything I’ve lost, and nothing’s won
iocfaidh ár lá (Our day will come)
Our day has come; Answer the phone.
I hope you will join us in celebrating three other anniversaries this month: Sue Mangan has been writing for iIrish for 19 years, our longest tenured team member after myself; Vincent Beach has been writing for iIrish for 10 years;
Fred Peters for five years. May their blessings continue to light our days. Please join me in congratulating/thank them for their generous, thought provoking gifts to us each month, in demanding work, stamina, insight and inspiration.
See the What’s the Craic?, Taking the Fields of Glory, pages within for all craic, and the details too. There is so much more inside.
Speak Irish done for summer, and our 15th year. New teachers. Thanks Bob
iIrish is made in America. We have always been green and are proudly Irish, all year long.
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The Year that Was:
2026:
