A large crowd turned out under stormy skies last Thursday evening in Manhattan for the New York launch of the memoir "My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland" penned by Irish National Caucus founder, Fr. Sean McManus.
The event, at O'Lunney's Times Square, was coordinated and chaired by Owen Rodgers and was attended by a number of leading figures in the campaign to bring about peaceful change in Northern Ireland over the years including Mutual of America chairman emeritus, Bill Flynn, and longtime MacBride Principles campaigner Pat Doherty of the New York State Comptroller's office.
Among the speakers at the gathering, which was treated to a rousing address by Fr. McManus, was Mary Hogan, national secretary of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Hogan, in her speech, said that the McManus memoir should be studied and used as an essential tool to promote and advance the cause of Irish unity, justice and peace.
Other is attendance at O'Lunney's included rights campaigner Leslie Cassidy, Mary Elizabeth Bartholomew, first cice president, Brehon Law Society, Larry Downes, president of the Friends of Sinn Féin; Ciaran Staunto of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform; Chip McLean, AOH New York state president; Sean Pender, AOH New Jersey state president; James Cullen of the Brehon Law Society; Bob Bateman, a long-time associate of Fr. Mc Manus, and long time campaigners on Irish issues, Liam Murphy and Sandy Boyer. "
It is gratifying to see strong, informed women, like Mary Hogan and Leslie Cassidy, take the lead both in promoting the book and advancing the cause of equality and human rights for all of Ireland," said Barbara Flaherty who travled to the event from Washington, D.C. and who has been the main publicist for the memoir. "
It was a wonderful event. I am deeply grateful, and, as always, inspired by the New York and New Jersey Irish," said Fr. McManus.
