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Chicago Easter Commemoration Report
Monday April 23, 2007
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EVENT PHOTOS go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irishfreedomcommittee/sets/72157600116186546/
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Chicago Easter Commemoration Report
Monday April 23, 2007
On Sunday April 22 2007 the Charlie Kerins Cumann of the Irish Freedom Committee held a commemoration of the 91st anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rebellion at Murphy’s Pub in Forest Park, IL.
The lively and successful event brought in a great crowd on a gorgeous day after weeks of cold and rain. Many new faces and many not seen in a long time came out on a day perhaps spent at the lake or the parks. With the pub doors wide-open famed Chicago balladeer Steve Fitzgerald belted out rebel tunes one after the other and entertained the crowd with his notorious banter.
The pub was filled with emblems of Ireland’s history for the event. On stage, beneath the tri-color and American flag, two oversize copies of the
1916 Easter Proclamation were positioned. Large black and white photos of the civil rights victims of Bloody Sunday, massacred by British Army snipers 35 years ago this January, were placed against the walls around the pub. These photos were previously carried by members of Chicago’s Charlie Kerins Cumann in the
2007 Irish Freedom Committee march at Chicago’s downtown Saint Patrick’s Day
parade. Educational fliers on the history of the Bloody Sunday massacre, and a history of the 1916 Easter Rebellion, were also distributed.
A packed bar signed stacks of cards for Irish Republican political prisoners, after hearing the sobering reports of present conditions for POWs at Maghaberry. Attendees at the event took home
Action Requests to send letters and emails to the NIO and NIPS (Prisons Service) to protest the brutal treatment of the POWs over Easter Week. Educational fliers asking for action on the repatriation of Irish Republican POW Noel Maguire to Ireland were also distributed.
Following a report from Deirdre Fennessy on the recent news from Maghaberry prison, a statement from the Maghaberry POWs to IFC supporters in America was read out, along with statements from the republican movement in Ireland. Cards from the POWs to the IFC were also shared with the crowd. Colm Mistéil read out the
1916 Proclamation, and then a raffle for Irish Republican memorabilia and craftwork was held, with all proceeds going direct to the families of Irish Republican POWs.
Steve Fitzgerald’s energetic performance continued well into the afternoon, to the delight of all. Departing guests congratulated the IFC on an enjoyable and successful event and all agreed it was an afternoon well spent! We look forward to another successful event in the near future.
- Charlie Kerins Cumann, Irish Freedom Committee
Chicago, IL
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