|
Mick Flannery 1902 - 1994
Michael Flannery, a life-long contributor to the cause of Irish
freedom and the founder of Cumann na Saoirse was born in Co.
Tipperary in 1902. He was the youngest of seven children. His family
was staunchly Republican with a long history of opposition to the
British occupation of Ireland.
Mike’s life was marked by acts of bravery, patriotism and
compassion. He believed deeply in a united Ireland and had a great
love for the country of his birth.
At the age of 14, while attending Mount St. Joseph’s Monastic School
in Knocksheegowna, he was forced to flee to avoid being arrested by
the Royal Irish Constabulary who had begun a campaign of
incarcerating family members of Republican activists at the behest
of the British. After evading capture, Mike joined the North
Tipperary Brigade of the Irish Republican Army. Before his fifteenth
birthday he took an oath of allegiance to the Irish Republic and
fought in the Irish War of Independence.
After the infamous Treaty of 1922, which partitioned Ireland into
two sectarian states, Mike took up arms again, this time against the
forces of the Irish Free State. He did so as he was unwilling to
break his oath of allegiance to the Irish Republic and accept
anything less than a free and united Ireland.e was subsequently
captured and imprisoned by forces of the Irish Free State. After two
years in Mountjoy Jail, he and his comrades went on hunger strike
seeking political prisoner status. He was subsequently freed in
1924. In 1927, Mike emigrated to America, as there was little or no
work in Ireland, especially for opponents of partition. In America,
he was employed by Metropolitan Life where he worked for the next
four decades.
During his early years in America he met and married his wife
Margaret “Pearl” Eagan who was also involved in the fight for Irish
freedom. Down through the decades, Mike assisted Republican
activists who sought refuge in America including Ernie O’Malley in
the late 20s, Andy Cooney in the early 50s and others in the 70s and
80s. Mike was a member of several organizations including the
Tipperary Men’s Association, the Gaelic Athletic Association and
Clann na Gael.In 1970, after the present phase of the struggle
started, he founded the Irish Northern Aid Committee to raise money
to support the dependents of Irish Political Prisoners.
As a result of his leadership role in the struggle for Irish
freedom, Mike made many powerful and determined enemies here in
America as well as England and Ireland. Despite that he was elected
Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York in 1981.
Throughout his life Mike sent aid and encouragement to those
refusing to accept the British occupation of Ireland or acknowledge
the legitimacy of two sectarian states-the products of partition.
Not only did Mike rebuff those who abandoned Republican principles
in the 20s, 30s, 40s and 60s; he, together with George Harrison,
characterized the ‘Provos’ abandonment of Republican principles in
1986 as the “same old departure”.
After
returning from a visit to Ireland in 1987, Mike along with George
Harrison and Joe Stynes founded Cumann na Saoirse Naisiunta – The
National Irish Freedom Committee to carry the torch of Irish
Republicanism in America. Mike passed away on September 30, 1994. He
was a true son of Ireland and a worthy citizen of his adopted
country, the United States of America. Mike’s legacy lives on and
the torch of Irish Freedom that he carried throughout his entire
life continues to burn brightly. - | 
