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www.celtic-connection.com
SEPTEMBER 2011
SEATTLE IRISH NEWS
PSNI move for IRA tapes should be ruled illegal
say researchers
BOSTON - Efforts by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to gain access to the taped testimonies of former IRA members have taken a dramatic new twist after two researchers moved that the efforts be ruled illegal. They say that releasing the material would breach extradition agreements.
The tapes are in Boston College's Belfast project, which also holds records of IRA decomriussioriing and material deposited by the government. The ex-paramilitary activists spoke in the beliefthat it would not be published while they lived.
The archive was setup by the journalist Ed Moloney and all the IRA interviews were carried out by Dr. Anthony Mclntyre, himself a convicted IRA killer.
So far the battle has been between the PSNI, acting through the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the college which has pleaded that lives could be in danger and academic research stifled. Now Moloney and Mclntyre have applied to be joined to the action.
In papers lodged by Eamon Dornan, a Belfast barrister who now practices in New York, they say that a Mutual Aid Treaty between America and Britain prohibits the extradition of people from America for offences committed in Northern Ireland before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998.
Court papers lodged by Dornan claim that releasing the material would breach "solemn promises made by the UK Government to the U.S. Senate" that "it would not reopen issues addressed in the Belfast Agreement, or impede any further efforts to resolve the conflict in Northern Ireland."
Police interest was aroused when Brendan "the Dark" Hughes, a former Belfast IRA commander, died and his story was published along with that of David Ervine, the loy alist politician who told of his role as a UVF bomb maker.
Hughes, a former friend of Gerry Adams, claimed that the Sinn Fein president has been an IRA leader, though Adams has consistently denied any IRA involvement and still does.
FORMER friends Gerry Adams and Brendan Hughes in Long Kesh (The Maze Prison). Prior to his death, Hughes gave a series of interviews which implicated Adams as a leader of the IRA.
Hughes went on to allege that, in that role, Adams headed a unit which organised the "disappearance" of people suspected of supplying information to the security forces.
In particular, he claimed that Adams had agreed that Jean McConville, a widow who lived in Divis flats, should not only be killed, but secretly buried.
Her body was found buried in a Co. Louth beach in2003, more than 30 years after her death.
STORY SO FAR
Boston College holds the taped testimonies of up to 50 former Northern Ireland paramilitaries who spoke on condition that nothing would be published in their lifetimes. When Brendan "the Dark" Hughes (above), an ex-IRA commander died, his story was published and formed the basis for Ed Moloney's book, Voices from the Grave.
Boston College has already given to U.S. prosecutors the interview with Brendan Hughes now a second set of subpoenas was issued recently demanding access to the interview given by Dolours Price.
The subpoena has been issued by U.S. attorney in Boston, Carmen Ortiz, at the behest of unidentified authorities associated with the British Government There is a belief that the request is mischievous and is aimed at identifying information damaging to Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.
Many Irish people against IMF bailout says Adams
DUBLIN - Many people in Ireland are opposed to Britain, the European Union (EU) or the International Monetary Fund (IMF) "ruling" over Irish affairs, Gerry Adams has said.
The Sinn Fein president's comments came in a speech on August 14 at a south Armagh rally to mark the 30th anniversary of the prison hunger strikes ofl981.
Adams told supporters in Camlough that the protest, which saw 10 republicans in the top-security Maze prison starve to death for political status, had helped build the biggest republican movement since partition.
"There are many people in Ireland who want rid of outsiders ruling us, whether from London or the IMF and EU," he said. "They want a free and united and independent Ireland."
The reference to the impact of the Republic's multi-billion euro EU and
IMF bailout came in a speech in which the Sinn Fein leader predicted growth for his party.
He plotted its expansion from the prison protest that saw its leader, the IRA's Bobby Sands, elected MP for Fermanagh-South Tyrone prior to his death.
"The fact is that Irish republicanism is stronger today than at any time since partition," said Adams.
"But to make further advances and to be able to exercise even greater political influence and power, we need to build our struggle."
He added, "There is now an entirely peaceful way to bring an end to British rule.
"Our duty is to develop democratic ways and means to achieve and to unite behind the leadership and the campaigns which will bring this about."
PASSAGES
• Fr. Patrick O'Neill, 82, a priest of the Seattle Archdiocese from1953 until he retired in 1999, died August 22 in his native Co. Clare after moving back there last spring.
• Patrick J. Carroll died August 21 in Yonkers, NY, aged 91. A native of Tipperary, he was the father of Seattle's Patricia Cleary.
■ Eileen Barrans, 91, died on July 22 in Lynnwood. A native of Dublin, Eileen lived in Lynnwood since 1946.
• Margaret Moore, 90, died July 19 in Las Vegas. A native of Dublin, Madge lived in the Renton area for most of her life.
• Stephanie Fahlbeck, 34, died unexpectedly in Everett on July 18, just months before she was due to be married. Her late mother Kathleen was a native of Co. Leitrim.
• Kevin Joyce, 59, a native of Mayo and a former Seattle resident, was found stabbed to death recently in Galway. His assailant is now receiving psychiatric care.
Ar dheis De go raibh a n-anamacha
- May their faithful souls rest at the right hand of God
SENIORS' LUNCHEON - The next Irish seniors' luncheon will be at noon on September 24, at the Wilde Rover Irish Restaurant in Kirkland.
The subsidized cost of the buffet lunch is $10 per person and all seniors are welcome who are Irish by birth, extraction or interest.
The main purpose of these luncheons is to provide an opportunity to meet and greet old and new friends.
Over 300 different Irish seniors, the majority of whom are Irish-born, have attended these luncheons over the past three years.
All of the luncheons have been wonderful, fun occasions and we encourage you to attend if you're an Irish senior!
Advance reservations are required
- call Lorraine at (206) 915-1878.
BOOK CLUB - On September 28, at7 PM, Irish author Sebastian Barry reads from his latest novel, On Canaan's Side, at Elliott Bay Bookstore, 1521 10th Avenue, Seattle.
Dubliner Barry has been included on this year's Man Booker Prize longlist and was also shortlisted for the award in 2005 and again in 2008.
Seattle's Irish Book Club will meet after the reading in the bookstore cafe to discuss To School Through the Fields by Alice Taylor
Contact Judith athudit@comcast.net for Book Club information.
BOOKER WINNER-On October 13, at 7 PM at the Seattle Central Public Library, 1000 4th Avenue (Microsoft Auditorium), acclaimed Irish writer and Booker Prize winnerAnne Enright reads from her new novel The Forgotten Waltz, which is set in contemporary Dublin.
Enright lives in Dublin, and her most recent novel was the bestseller The Gathering that won the 2007 Booker Prize.
The reading is presented in partnership with the Irish Heritage
Club and The Elliott Bay Book Co. For more information, call (425) 290-7839.
McMANUS BOOK - Fr. Sean McManus, founder of the Irish National Caucus, will have the Seattle launch of his book My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland on October 29, from 2-4 PM at F X McRory's in Pioneer Square.
For almost 40 years, Fr. McManus has been at the heart of the Irish-American campaign of lobbying congress for justice in Northern Ireland.
The book is his account of how he mainstreamed Northern Ireland on Capitol Hill.
".. a compelling inside view of the pursuit of peace and justice for Ireland."- Irish Voice.
For information, contact Joe Martin at (206) 322-8155.
LOCAL BOOK - Best wishes to Seattleite Kathleen O'Connor who recently published Embracing Two Lives, a tribute to her 13-year-old son, Remi Miles, who was killed in a car accident in 1991.
The collection of poetry is comprised of verses written before and after Remi's death and also includes some of his poetry. E-mail: kathleen2501@gmail.com for more details.
IRISH DANCING - Baile Glas Irish Dancers have classes forming for the fall trimester in Seattle's Crown Hill and Capitol Hill neighborhoods, and beginners aged 51/2 to teens are welcome. Call Maggie Corrigan TCRG at (206) 324-6141 for details.
A listing of Seattle area Irish Dancing schools can be found on the Irish Heritage Club's website at www.irishclub.org.
FIDDLING CLASSES - Seattle's master fiddler Randal Bays offers Irish fiddle classes for young people, starting September 24 at Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Avenue N.
Students will learn Irish fiddle tunes plus bowing and ornamentation in the traditional style, building a repertoire of jigs, reels, hornpipes, etc.
Participants should at least have basic violin orfiddle skills. Call (206) 523-1836 for more details.
A listing of Seattle area Irish musicians can be found on the Irish Heritage Club's website at: www.irishclub.org.
DONATION - Holy Family School in West Seattle caters to a diverse multi-lingual community and the school building is old and in need of major refurbishment.
At their annual banquet last March, the Friends of St. Patrick decided to raise funds for Holy Family and on the first day of the new school term
several officers went to the school to present a check for $10,000 which was then matched by another $10,000 from the Fulchrum Foundation.
The March Friends of St. Patrick Banquet also raised money to fund two endowments for Irish-American students at Seattle University Law School.
JUMPING CONNECTION - A
member of Ireland's showjumping team in the Nations Cup atthe 138th Dublin Horse Show last month was Seattleite Jennifer Crooks. Jennifer and her husband Mike ran Evergreen Equestrian Center in Kirkland for many years before moving in 2008 to Sandpoint, Idaho where they now run Stella Farm. Both of Jennifer's parents were born in Co. Roscommon.
SOUNDERS BEWARE! - Major league soccer's LA Galaxy has signed a two-year deal for Irish international forward Robbie Keane.
The 31-year-old Irish captain has played 108 games for Ireland for whom he has scored a record 51 goals.
He is also the tenth highest goal scorer in English Premier League history and scored after 21 minutes during his first game with the Galaxy.
CONGRATULATIONS
•To Maureen Barrett and Mark Smith who were married in Lynnwood on August 20. Maureen's mother is from Leitrim and her late father from Mayo.
• To Mike and Jennifer Keane who were married recently in Montana. A native of Galway, Mike lived in the Seattle area in the 1990s before taking up farming near Broadview, MT, about 6 years ago.
• To Nuala Vaile and Sam Kaeding who were married on June 17. A native of Dublin, Nuala has lived in the Seattle area for over 30 years.
MISCELLANEOUS
• All-Ireland Hurling and Football Finals are telecast live from Dublin at Fado Irish Pub, 1 st and Columbia, downtown Seattle.
Call Fado at (206) 264-2700 for games, fees, etc. Or to watch the games online, call (425) 290-7839.
• Scottish Heritage Night at the Seattle Mariners is September 16, at 7:10 PM. Reduced price tickets and free t-shirtat Mariners.com/Scottish.
• Orla Fallon, former member of the Celtic Woman, atTacoma's Broadway Center on October 15.
• Celtic Thunder Heritage Tour 2011 at Seattle's McCaw Hall on October 30, 7:30 PM.
• Seattle's Mass of Remembrance in the Gaelic language will be October 28, 7:30pm, at St. Patrick's Church.
• Mark your calendar for March 11, 2012, an all-day Irish Genealogy Conference with presentations by the director of the Ulster Historical Foundation in Belfast.
■ For the latest information on all the Irish/Celtic music and dance events in the Seattle area, including concerts, ceilis, set dances, Highland games, etc., visit
www.HOILANDS.com.