A Letter from Ireland
a Chara,
The letter this week is from somewhere over the Atlantic. I am on my way home after a series of Irish Unity Commission hearings in Hartford, Boston, and Philadelphia, as well as a lecture in New Bedford by historian Marcus Howard to mark the 150th anniversary of the Catalpa’s sailing from the city.
All of the events were incredibly energising for our delegation, which included Mairead Farrell TD from Galway and Greg O’Loughlin, Executive Director of Friends of Sinn Féin USA.
The rooms were full of old and new friends, drawn together by a common pride in Ireland and a shared hope for the future. In Hartford, we paid our respects to the Hunger Strikers at the magnificent Celtic cross erected in their honour. The previous day, we had attended an Irish Unity Commission held at the Irish American Home Society. The event was bookended by a piper and an exhibition of Irish Dancing.
In Boston, the Commission was hosted in the Florian Hall in South Boston. The walls of the room have echoed for generations of labour functions and Irish American celebrations. Older activists shared their memories of previous speakers and Irish Republican events with a new generation of activists. Mairead spoke of the close bonds forged over generations of immigration between Galway and Boston.
It was then onto Philly and a packed hall in the Commodore John Barry Irish Arts and Cultural Centre. In common with Hartford and Boston, it was a sold-out event with over two hundred registered.
All of these cities have their own identities and personalities, yet are unmistakably Irish American.
But another story caught my ear. Mairead spoke at the lecture on the Catalpa about Captain Anthony. Earlier that day, we had visited his grave site.
Captain Anthony
Captain Anthony was recruited by the Fenians to skipper the boat to break out their comrades being held as prisoners in Western Australia. He had no connection with the Fenians or Ireland. But he recognised the injustice imposed on Irish patriots imprisoned by Britain. The risks were high: imprisonment or death. When asked in later years why he undertook this dangerous mission, he simply said, “It was the right thing to do.”
He sailed out of New Bedford, MA, leaving his home, wife and young daughter, carrying with him the courage of his own beliefs. Recognising that some causes are bigger than ourselves. That an injustice to one is an injustice to all.
He returned with the escaped Fenian prisoners, but he would remain a wanted man for the rest of his life by the British. His seafaring days ended.
Connecting past and present, Mairead reminded us all, “Today, we remember Captain Anthony and the Fenian Prisoners. Tomorrow, we honour them by working to build a new and united Ireland.”
I would like to thank all of those, too many to name, who helped make this a highly successful tour. But a special mention must go to Kathleen Savage, whose youthful enthusiasm for the cause of Irish unity has not diminished over decades of activism.
Have a great weekend,
