Celtic Corner - June 2016

CELTIC CORNER

          Bobby Sands was an Irish Nationalist who led a hunger strike in prison in 1981. He was elected a Member of Parliament during the strike and died on May 5, 1981, 35 years ago. Sands endured a long hunger strike that brought great world opinion on the problem in Northern Ireland which years later brought about the Good Friday Agreement.

          Dennis Mulcahy on May 5^th, the same date that Bobby Sands died, was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth. During the ceremony the queen said Dennis, by his actions saved one child at a time. I also believe his actions helped to make the Good Friday Agreement a reality.         

I AM OF IRISH AMERICA

I am of Irish America.

I am a child of immigrants.

I am of a people who for over eight hundred years have bowed a knee to no king but the King of Heaven.

And bowed a head to no queen but the Queen of Heaven.

I am of a dispersed people sent in Slavery to Barbados, in Chains to Australia and in Famine to America.

I am of a people who tore themselves from their father’s trembling arms

 Kissed their tear stained Mother’s face good-bye

And traveled all over the world

To keep a roof over beloved heads

And food on a hungry table.

I am of an Empire upon which no sun can set, for

Wherever you go in the whole wide world

Wherever a House of God has risen,

Whenever a house of learning founded

Or a tree of liberty planted by loving hands

And watered by the tears of an Irish exile,

There you will find the Irish Empire.

I thank God for the Blood of my Fathers.

I thank God for the land of my Birth.

I pray that God will save Ireland.

I pray that God will continue to Bless America.

To all my friends in this great American Irish Association, I wish you a very happy and safe summer.

Frank Darcy