Irish Patriot To Tell His Tale

Mr. Cahill, a member of the Irish Republican Army who was once sentenced to death by a British court, is coming to participate in a program being organized for Saturday by Irish Organizations United.

The 2-to-8 p.m. celebration at the Clarion Hotel will mix Irish history with Irish food and entertainment.

Mr. Cahill, a native of Northern Ireland, felt the anti-Catholic prejudice and was early in deciding to do his bit to reunite the six counties of Northern Ireland with the Irish Republic.

JOINED IRA AT 18

He joined "Na Flanna" the "Republican Guards" -- a junior version of the IRA. Then, at 18, he joined the IRA.

On April 5, 1942, the IRA engaged the Royal Ulster Constabulary and a member of the RUC was killed. Seven IRA members were sentenced to death. But, on appeal, six, including Mr. Cahill, had their sentences changed to life in prison. The seventh was executed.

Later, an amnesty was declared and Mr. Cahill was among those released after seven years. He was married and fathered seven children but continued his IRA service. For another episode, he served four years and was released again in 1961.

Mr. Cahill then came to America and raised money for the war against the British. In 1973, he was arrested off the coast of Ireland while trying to bring weapons into the country. Again, he was sent to jail where he began to experience heart problems. He was released and continued to work for a united Ireland.

Today he is honorary president of Sinn Fein, the political party that still supports reunification of Ireland, but with a difference. The guns of the IRA, the military arm of Sinn Fein, have been silenced in accord with the peace plan that Sinn Fein and Mr. Cahill, now support.

John Breheny, a local resident whose uncle was killed while fighting for the independence of Ireland, is scheduled to be given the first Padraig Pearse Award and therein lies another story.

Mr. Pearse was one of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Monday rebellion in Dublin against English rule. The rebels captured government buildings and Mr. Pearse read a declaration of independence from British rule. At the same time, he was proclaimed the president of the new Irish Republic.

The rebellion failed, however, and 16 leaders were captured and executed by the British.

UNITED IRISH PEOPLE

That was a terrible public relations error by the British because Irish people all over the world were angered. Nothing in the 700 years of British rule united the Irish more than the execution of the Easter Monday rebels. The dead heroes became martyrs overnight and Great Britain finally began to realize that it would have to give up its efforts to rule all of Ireland.

No one I know in this area deserves the first Padraig Pearse Award more than Mr. Breheny, who is a walking encyclopedia on Irish history.

The $25-a-person program will begin at 2 p.m. with music by Donnybrook, a local Irish band, and Chuck Rogers, an Irish musician. Later, Pat Hyland, an Irish folk singer from Binghamton, N.Y., will sing. About 3 p.m., a documentary on Northern Ireland will be shown, followed by a talk by Mr. Cahill. Then various awards will be given to Mr. Breheny and others. A buffet lunch will be served at 4:15 p.m. The Ceili Band of Dunmore, featuring Leo Schott on the uileann pipes, will perform. at 6 p.m. followed by Maureen King and the Irish Cultural Society dancers performing and giving lessons to those wanting to join in.

For tickets, call 347-3817.

JOSEPH X. FLANNERY is a columnist for The Scranton Times.

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