Another Chapter
By Neil McDaid
March 19, Holyoke Ma. For the past 55 years this small city located some 95 miles west of Boston has hosted the second largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the nation, second only to the parade in New York City.
Participants of note who have attended this parade through the years included former President John F. Kennedy, then Senator, in 1958 along with a long list of U.S. Senators and Congressmen; two former Speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives; Governors of several states; actors Pat O'Brien, Maureen O'Hara and Robert Stack; authors Frank McCourt, Neil Sheehan, Tom Clancy; Cardinal Cushing, several Bishops and religious leaders; astronauts; the list goes on.
On this cold and windy Sunday morning I ventured to Holyoke to catch up with the leader of Ireland’s Sinn Fein political party, Gerry Adams. This was his last official engagement on his 2006 US visit, a visit that will surely feature in another chapter in the storied life of this significant figure in Northern Irish politics and Ireland’s republican struggle.
As the marching bands gathered in front of the local K-Mart store and the floats got in gear to make the 2-½ mile journey down the parade route a few photographers, myself included, scanned the area for Mr. Adams. He seemed nowhere to be found. I had to ask myself could it possible be he was once again detained. To understand my concern you would have to have followed the events leading up to this Sunday morning.
It has been well documented in the media over the past few years the issues regarding the US government’s resistance in granting Gerry Adams a travel visa to the US. There has also been the issue of him being barred from attending any fundraising events while in the US.
Gerry Adams arrived to the US early the week of the 13th; he attended several events the New York, which included a speech at St. John's University. From there he went on to meet with Grant Lally, President of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, where he promised to raise this issue of emigration reform with senior Congressional and Senate leaders; making it a priority matter while in Washington.
Problems began for Adams once in Washington where his party was forced to return funds that were made at a Friends of Sinn Fein gala breakfast simply because he was in attendance. On St. Patrick’s Day Gerry attended a breakfast in the presence of President Bush at the White House where the President acknowledged Gerry on his efforts with the peace process.
From there Mr. Adams, accompanied by his long time aid Richard McAuley and Sinn Fein’s North American representative Rita O’Hare, made his way to Washington’s Dulles Airport to catch a plane to Buffalo, New York. Gerry Adams had been scheduled to address a meeting hosted by U.S. Rep Brian Higgins that same evening.
Problems arose for Adams and McAuley during the TSA security screening. What was to be a 30-minute wait to be screened turned into an hour without explanation! Both men are on the TSA “watch list”, which they have been for some years, but screening should have been somewhat routine, as their travel plans had been made available to the US State Department prior to their departure from Ireland. Subsequently, they were subjected to body searches and had their personal belongs, along with their passports, taken from them for further screening.
They were delayed for several hours missing any chance to attend the Buffalo function. Their colleague, Rita O’ Hare, was not detained or delayed in her screening. The fact that these same men had just come from attending breakfast with the US President where security screening would be a maximum priority also added to the mystery.
Gerry Adams was on the “watch list” because of his interment, without trial, on the Maidstone Prison Ship and in Long Kesh during the 1970s. Gerry documented these chapters of his life in a book, Cage Eleven.
McAuley was convicted in the 1970s for Irish Republican Army activities, mainly the possession of a rifle.
To avoid further possible delays with airport security, Adams and McAuley opted to take the train from Washington to Boston the following day, Saturday, which took some six and a half hours versus the one and a half hour flight under normal circumstances.
So, here we are back in Holyoke, in the cold of western Massachusetts, and from amongst the floats and bands appears Gerry Adams sporting a pair of ear muffs, a cap and long green coat and gloves. He had a few more white hairs on the beard since I saw him last. An extended hand greeted me as I approached him, with a “how’s it going? Hope all’s well,” like we have known each other all our lives, yet I have only meet the man a few times in passing.
Setting out on the parade route Gerry is accompanied by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Rita O’Hare and Richard McAuley. They will walk about 200 yards behind Irish Consol General David Barry, and Ma. Attorney General Tom Reilly.
Curious to see the reception that Gerry Adams would receive at the well-attended Holyoke parade, I decided to tag along the route. It was not very long before supporters appeared, stepping from the crowd; many older, some visibly emotional. As they grasped for that outstretched hand, “Gerry, Gerry”, was sometimes as much as some could get out.
One person displayed a hand written sign “Welcome Gerry Adams, you are granted a full visa today in Holyoke.” Others made their way looking to get their picture taken with this figure of Ireland’s republican struggle. More just simply called out his name as he passed. In turn, Gerry tried to acknowledge everyone as he went down the route. With out question on this day at least Gerry Adams was among friends.
In the end we might never know the circumstance surrounding the situation at Dulles Airport. Some have already speculated that it was a result of statements made by Gerry Adams in reference to Mitchell Reiss regarding the peace process.
This past week further support has grown within the US government for the ongoing requests from Sinn Fein to have the names of their party officials, including that of Gerry Adams, removed from the “watch list.”
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, along with five New York Congressmen, added their support to have Adams removed from the list this week. I look forward to reading Gerry Adams account of this incident in another chapter of a future book.
By Neil McDaid
March 19, Holyoke Ma. For the past 55 years this small city located some 95 miles west of Boston has hosted the second largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the nation, second only to the parade in New York City.
Participants of note who have attended this parade through the years included former President John F. Kennedy, then Senator, in 1958 along with a long list of U.S. Senators and Congressmen; two former Speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives; Governors of several states; actors Pat O'Brien, Maureen O'Hara and Robert Stack; authors Frank McCourt, Neil Sheehan, Tom Clancy; Cardinal Cushing, several Bishops and religious leaders; astronauts; the list goes on.
On this cold and windy Sunday morning I ventured to Holyoke to catch up with the leader of Ireland’s Sinn Fein political party, Gerry Adams. This was his last official engagement on his 2006 US visit, a visit that will surely feature in another chapter in the storied life of this significant figure in Northern Irish politics and Ireland’s republican struggle.
As the marching bands gathered in front of the local K-Mart store and the floats got in gear to make the 2-½ mile journey down the parade route a few photographers, myself included, scanned the area for Mr. Adams. He seemed nowhere to be found. I had to ask myself could it possible be he was once again detained. To understand my concern you would have to have followed the events leading up to this Sunday morning.
It has been well documented in the media over the past few years the issues regarding the US government’s resistance in granting Gerry Adams a travel visa to the US. There has also been the issue of him being barred from attending any fundraising events while in the US.
Gerry Adams arrived to the US early the week of the 13th; he attended several events the New York, which included a speech at St. John's University. From there he went on to meet with Grant Lally, President of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, where he promised to raise this issue of emigration reform with senior Congressional and Senate leaders; making it a priority matter while in Washington.
Problems began for Adams once in Washington where his party was forced to return funds that were made at a Friends of Sinn Fein gala breakfast simply because he was in attendance. On St. Patrick’s Day Gerry attended a breakfast in the presence of President Bush at the White House where the President acknowledged Gerry on his efforts with the peace process.
From there Mr. Adams, accompanied by his long time aid Richard McAuley and Sinn Fein’s North American representative Rita O’Hare, made his way to Washington’s Dulles Airport to catch a plane to Buffalo, New York. Gerry Adams had been scheduled to address a meeting hosted by U.S. Rep Brian Higgins that same evening.
Problems arose for Adams and McAuley during the TSA security screening. What was to be a 30-minute wait to be screened turned into an hour without explanation! Both men are on the TSA “watch list”, which they have been for some years, but screening should have been somewhat routine, as their travel plans had been made available to the US State Department prior to their departure from Ireland. Subsequently, they were subjected to body searches and had their personal belongs, along with their passports, taken from them for further screening.
They were delayed for several hours missing any chance to attend the Buffalo function. Their colleague, Rita O’ Hare, was not detained or delayed in her screening. The fact that these same men had just come from attending breakfast with the US President where security screening would be a maximum priority also added to the mystery.
Gerry Adams was on the “watch list” because of his interment, without trial, on the Maidstone Prison Ship and in Long Kesh during the 1970s. Gerry documented these chapters of his life in a book, Cage Eleven.
McAuley was convicted in the 1970s for Irish Republican Army activities, mainly the possession of a rifle.
To avoid further possible delays with airport security, Adams and McAuley opted to take the train from Washington to Boston the following day, Saturday, which took some six and a half hours versus the one and a half hour flight under normal circumstances.
So, here we are back in Holyoke, in the cold of western Massachusetts, and from amongst the floats and bands appears Gerry Adams sporting a pair of ear muffs, a cap and long green coat and gloves. He had a few more white hairs on the beard since I saw him last. An extended hand greeted me as I approached him, with a “how’s it going? Hope all’s well,” like we have known each other all our lives, yet I have only meet the man a few times in passing.
Setting out on the parade route Gerry is accompanied by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Rita O’Hare and Richard McAuley. They will walk about 200 yards behind Irish Consol General David Barry, and Ma. Attorney General Tom Reilly.
Curious to see the reception that Gerry Adams would receive at the well-attended Holyoke parade, I decided to tag along the route. It was not very long before supporters appeared, stepping from the crowd; many older, some visibly emotional. As they grasped for that outstretched hand, “Gerry, Gerry”, was sometimes as much as some could get out.
One person displayed a hand written sign “Welcome Gerry Adams, you are granted a full visa today in Holyoke.” Others made their way looking to get their picture taken with this figure of Ireland’s republican struggle. More just simply called out his name as he passed. In turn, Gerry tried to acknowledge everyone as he went down the route. With out question on this day at least Gerry Adams was among friends.
In the end we might never know the circumstance surrounding the situation at Dulles Airport. Some have already speculated that it was a result of statements made by Gerry Adams in reference to Mitchell Reiss regarding the peace process.
This past week further support has grown within the US government for the ongoing requests from Sinn Fein to have the names of their party officials, including that of Gerry Adams, removed from the “watch list.”
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, along with five New York Congressmen, added their support to have Adams removed from the list this week. I look forward to reading Gerry Adams account of this incident in another chapter of a future book.
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