IRISH UNITY HIGH ON AGENDA AT NORAID CONVENTION

“The war in Ireland is over,” Paul Doris began.  “The next step is the push for a united Ireland.”  National Chair of Irish Northern Aid, the American organization formed thirty-seven years ago to support the families of Republican prisoners in Ireland, Doris was speaking at the group’s Annual General Meeting, held in Boston this past Saturday, April 12, 2008.

 

            Emphasizing the strictly political nature of the struggle for independence from Britain as well as the push for unity, INA brought over two Sinn Féin members to speak to the gathering — Seamus Morris, from County Tipperary, in the Republic of Ireland, and Daithi McKay, from County Antrim in the north.

 

            Morris, a member of the Nenagh Town Council in addition to his full-time job as a postman, related some of his own family history as an example of politics being able to accomplish goals in Ireland.  He said that both his father and his brother “left politics” in 1986, joining the dissident group, Republican Sinn Féin.  “They couldn’t believe that Ian Paisley could be brought across the threshold,” Morris said.  “But that is exactly what happened last year.”  Acknowledging Noraid’s support over all the years, he thanked the group “for keeping it going.  But it’s not done yet.  There’s a massive job to do.  We need to drive this over the line.  We need to drive the all-Ireland agenda.” 

 

            Perhaps more than anyone, McKay represented the face of the future.  At just 26 years of age, he’s a  member of the Ballymoney Borough Council, a Member of the Legislative Assembly and a member of the Police Board.  He echoed Morris’s praise for INA.  “Without Noraid’s support, we wouldn’t be where we are today — and where we are is closer to a united Ireland,” which he said was the only guarantee to a lasting peace.

 

            McKay predicted that Sinn Féin will become the largest political party in the north.  He said that the party is looking at areas where unionism is failing its electorate.  “There’s a massive working class deficit in terms of representation,” McKay explained.  “That’s an opportunity for Sinn Féin.  Protestant workers are coming to Sinn Féin, looking for support.”

 

            He also criticized Britain’s control of the police as undemocratic.  “Police oversight needs to be taken away from the British and given to the local politicians,” McKay said.  “I believe that could happen within the next year.”

 

            Answering questions from the floor, Morris said that the greatest potential roadblock to unification was apathy.  “If we think the job is done, we’re in trouble, “ said Morris.  “We have to work ten times harder.  Noraid has been there for thirty-seven years and it will be there when the job gets done.”

 

            McKay agreed.  “There’s a danger that we might take all of this for granted simply because the war is over,” he said.  “We can’t let that happen.  We need to tackle apathy.  We must re-motivate those who were there for Ireland.  We need to re-engage Ireland’s supporters.”

 

            Looking at the tasks ahead, McKay said that organizing was “the road map to Irish unity, just as Gerry Adams said at the Ard Fheis in February.”  He added that Irish Northern Aid was already playing a role and urged the group to “get stronger.”

 

            Rich Lawlor, INA’s Regional Director for New England, picked up on the forward-looking theme expressed by Morris and McKay.  “America has always played a role in Irish freedom,” Lawler said.  “We need the next generation.”  He said that he would like to see Sinn Féin sending young people over to meet with young people in America and on college campuses.  “Get them engaged, bring in the next generation,” Lawler said.

 

            Members attending the AGM hailed from locations all across America.  San Diego, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City and Houston.  Boston, Hartford, New York City, Cleveland, Washington, D.C. and Vermont.   The location for next year’s AGM was discussed but not decided.   Venues under consideration are New York, Philadelphia and Tampa, Florida.