WBAI 99.5FM Pacifica Radio
New York City
27 June 2015
(begins time stamp ~ 21:35)
SB: And we're
joined on the line by Martin Galvin, the longtime spokesperson for Irish
Republicanism in America now the Bronx Chair of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians. Martin, thank you for being with us.
MG: Thank you, Sandy.
SB: And of course this week we had the passing of
a giant, Mario Biaggi, who for many, many years was the foremost
spokesperson/champion of Irish Freedom in Congress – more energetic, more
dedicated than anybody in my lifetime. Can you share some of your reminiscences
about Mario Biaggi?
MG: Sandy, for more than ten years, from the late
1970's, certainly when he formed the Ad Hoc Committee for Irish Affairs, into
the '80's until his troubles with Congress, Mario Biaggi was the person,
the leader. When you talked about an “Irish lobby” you spoke, initially,
about Mario Biaggi. He was able to get a hundred and twenty
Congressmen who would sign onto initiatives – what would happen is – these are
the years: the lead-up to the hunger strike, the brutality at Long Kesh, or
plastic bullets were being fired on Irish children, there were collusion murders
- and when there was an event in Ireland: someone like me from Irish Northern
Aid or people from the Ancient Order of Hibernians or Irish National Caucus and
later The Unity Conference would be able to call Mario Biaggi – he would
spearhead an immediate reaction. Letters of protest would go out from large
number of members from the Ad Hoc Committee.
When there was any event, I
know a rally that I spoke at was attacked in Belfast in 1984. When I came back
to the United States he had already set up Congressional hearings, he had me
flown down to Washington - he greeted me - he said: they cannot do this to us
– and this was something – that type of protest – that immediate reaction –
that visceral reaction – was something that I and so many members of the Irish
community found in Mario Biaggi. Now he was somebody who didn't need Irish
votes. He lived in a district where less than ten percent of the people were
Irish. He had earned our votes a long time before but for some reason he became
very interested in the Irish issue. He was attacked – people like Kerry and
Moynihan and Kennedy would attack him. The Irish government of the day was
against him. The SDLP was against him – and all of that made him more
determined than ever and to stand up and fight and lead for us. So much so
that, Sandy, for more for ten years - you'll remember many events – if it was
an Irish Northern Aid testimonial dinner or one of the other large testimonial
dinners the emcee, Frank Durkan, myself, whoever was doing that job would wait
until the last - everyone else had been introduced on the dais - then we'd turn
and say: And now there's somebody who needs no introduction, that is Mario
Biaggi - and you'd hear cheers and applause – everybody would stand, cheer and
applaud and it would go on and on and it would be thunderous. And he deserved
that recognition then. And he deserves our gratitude now.
SB: Well Martin, thank you very much. That's a
very gracious tribute to a great leader. And I just want to let our audience
know that Martin will be here next week sitting in this chair so that John and
I can get a little bit of a break and I'm sure that you'll put a great show on
as usual, Martin.
MG: Sandy, thank you. Let me just say I'm at the
Gaelic Park at the football memorial tournament for O'Donovan-Rossa which Jimmy
Sullivan announced last week and he's here today. There's events at The Cork
Center tomorrow at one o'clock - there'll be a Mass and there'll be another
ceremony for that indomitable Fenian.
And Mario Biaggi's being waked Monday and
Tuesday at Riverdale-on-Hudson. Even though he was not Irish (obviously he was Italian) because of
the way he championed Irish issues Bronx County AOH is going to go there and
have a special ceremony that's usually reserved for AOH members. I would urge
as many people as possible - go to Riverdale-on-Hudson on Monday or Tuesday -
show the family that just as Mario Biaggi never forgot us that we will never
forget him. And it's interesting to note the things that he campaigned for:
visas, American presidential involvement in Ireland, all of those things –
later on – they would be accepted and that would be the basis for any progress
in Ireland. When he advocated those things in the '70's and '80's the Irish
government, the SDLP, the Irish politicians were against him. He is proven to
be right and our true champion.
SB: Well Martin again, thank you very much. That
was a very gracious tribute and I know you'll be back here next week.
(ends
time stamp ~ 26:24)
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