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The Annual Irish Republican Commemoration
2010
The Annual Irish Republican Commemoration was held at the Fenian Monument in Calvary
Cemetery in Queens NY on Sunday November 14th at 11.00
am. The sponsoring National Irish Freedom Committee and
Fenian Graves Association take this opportunity to thank
all of our members and supporters who attended the
commemoration.
This annual commemoration is held to remember and honor
our departed Fenian heroes and heroines whose sacrifices
over the centuries for Irish Freedom continue to be an
inspiration to all of us and a reminder that what they
strived to achieve is yet unfinished. To that end the
sponsoring organizations will support the centuries long
struggle for true freedom and independence in a reunited
32-county sovereign and Gaelic Irish Republic.
In a departure from prior years this year's
commemoration was held at the Fenian Monument, a sacred
place surrounded by history and the mortal remains of
many of our Fenian ancestors. The monument was erected
in 1907 on the fortieth anniversary of the execution of
the Manchester Martyrs and dedicated to the Fenian men
of 1865 to 1867.
Maggie Trainor, the Master of Ceremonies,
started off the program with a brief introduction. The
first speaker introduced by Maggie was Séamus Ó Dubhda,
a Gaelic speaker and lifelong unrepentant Fenian, read the
Proclamation in Irish. In keeping with the spirit of
the 1907 dedication, the second speaker, Liam Ó Murchú
gave a brief account of that time in the 1860's and 70's
and of the men and women who forged its' history. The biography of Col.
Thomas J. Kelly, a prominent member of the
Fenian Brotherhood and one of the men rescued from a
prison van in Manchester in 1867 (an historic event that culminated in the
execution of the Manchester Martyrs) was read by J. J.
Jacobs. Ian McGowan, a member of the Winged Fist
Organization, laid a wreath at the
base of the monument. Vic Sackett, an AOH member and the final speaker,
explained the role and mission of the Fenian Graves Association.
After the commemoration ceremonies
ended most of the
attendees met at a local restaurant for brunch. Ideas
were exchanged regarding future commemorations including
how to streamline the process and broaden participation and how best to deal with inclement weather,
which is always a consideration for outdoor events in
and around the winter months. A
number of good ideas were discussed that will be
further evaluated by a special commemorations committee. |