Michael Flannery was a veteran of the Tan War, an anti-Treaty veteran of the Civil War, and after emigrating to the US in 1927, he served in many organizations in leadership capacities, most notably as a co-founder of Irish Northern Aid in 1970; President of the NY GAA in 1954; President of Clan na Gael; and co-founder of Cumann na Saoirse Naisiunta (National Irish Freedom Committee) in 1986/87. In his capacity as leader of NORAID and subsequently the NIFC, Flannery was a tireless and unapologetic advocate and fundraiser on behalf of the Irish Republican Movement.
In 1987, when asked about the split in Sinn Fein, and subsequently Irish Northern Aid, Flannery replied “A lot of people are confused at this new conjecture… But personally, I see no reason for the confusion. I’ve been through splits and divisions before.” He described the conditions and people that initiated a breakaway in 1969, as being one in the same in 1986. Flannery rattled off the names of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, Dáithí Ó Conaill, Tom Maguire, and a host of others who were founding Provisionals that sided against the Adams faction in 1986 over the issue of abstentionism. To Flannery, the acceptance of British colonial structures in Ireland in 1921 was as revolting as it was in 1969, as it was in 1986.
These recollections of Michael Flannery were recorded by Pete Farley, a member of the NIFC. The tapes were preserved for many years by the Costello family, and now The Gaelic American is making these tapes publicly accessible through their YouTube channel.
The NIFC are hosting a commemoration for Michael Flannery on October 6th in Queens, New York. Beginning with a wreath laying at the grave of Michael Flannery at 1pm, a social will follow at 4pm at the Wild Goose Pub. (Locations below)
At the social, a video will be shown of Michael Flannery’s final message to the Irish Republican Movement, in which he states “You cannot compromise on principle.” This message is of particular value in the present day, when misguided representatives try to explain that bowing to monarchs and supporting juryless courts is all a part of being a republican. The video shown at the event will be uploaded to Youtube afterwards.
Additionally, the social will feature a speech to be given by John Ridge. John Ridge is the President of the New York Irish History Roundtable, and was a character witness for Patrick Mullin when the IRA Five were on trial in New York in 1981. His Irish-American archive is publicly accessible at NYU.
The event is co-sponsored by members of the Flannery family; The Gaelic American; Radio Free Eireann; O’Donovan Rossa GAA; Tipperary Association; Tipperary Hurling Club; and more groups TBA. Also remembered at this event on his 20th anniversary will be George Harrison. Harrison was a Brooklyn-based IRA gunrunner for over 30 years, and a co-defendant of Flannery at the IRA Five trial. Harrison said of Flannery:
It was indeed a singular honor to have known this heroic and historical figure and to have been one of his foot soldiers in the long unending struggle to end British colonialism in Ireland and put the Irish people, Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter in control of their own destiny.
Mt. St. Mary Cemetery is located at 172-00 Booth Memorial Avenue, Flushing, NY. Image attached indicates the location of Mike and Pearl Flannery’s grave. And The Wild Goose is located at 54-20 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside, NY.
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