A powerful new two-part RTÉ documentary, airing tonight, explores the pivotal role played by Irish Americans – some with deep Donegal roots – during the Troubles.
‘NORAID: Irish America & the IRA’ tells the story of those who served as the Republican movement’s voice in the US—raising funds, spreading propaganda, and smuggling weapons. Told through first-hand accounts and using exclusive archive sources, the series looks at how Irish-America went from collecting money in bars in the Bronx to pressing the Presidential Candidate, Bill Clinton, during the 1992 primaries – lobbying which led to a key turning point in the nascent Peace Process: a US Visa for the then President of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams.
Watch a trailer for the documentary below:
Following a sneak preview of the series, Donegal Daily can reveal a number of fascinating links to the county. These included the famous New York Police Department’s (NYPD) Emerald Pipe Band leading a Hunger Strike commemoration rally in Bundoran in 1984. An event that sparked a diplomatic row between British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and US President Ronald Reagan.
The band’s trip was organised by NYPD cop Chris Byrne, whose grandfather came from Dunkineely, and local man, Michael McMahon, now a Sinn Fein Councillor on Donegal County Council. Byrne will feature in tonight’s episode.
Chris Byrne being interviewed for the documentary. Pic: FaolanCarey.
Also featured in the series is John McDonagh – a well-known New York cab driver, newspaper editor, and radio presenter – who began his education at the tiny Lettercran National School near Pettigo. His mother Cathy (née Monaghan) was from remote Cashelinney and his father was Joseph McDonagh from Aghyaran, just over the border in Tyrone.
McDonagh was a prominent NORAID member in The Bronx and Manhattan. He gained infamy, though some say fame, in Christmas 1983 when he raised money to pay for a ‘Seasons Greetings to Irish Prisoners of War’ on the only electronic billboard in the world-famous Times Square – Maggie Thatcher wasn’t impressed with that either. The sign was designed by Brian Mór Ó Baoighi who was raised in South Bronx, but whose parents were from Dungloe.
“Thatcher was so enraged by the sign, she called-in the US ambassador to Downing Street,” McDonagh told Donegal Daily last week.
John McDonagh, the famous New York ‘cabbie’, who went to National School near Pettigo.
McDonagh, Byrne, and many others plan to gather at Ernie O’Malley’s pub on East 27th Street in Manhattan at 4:30pm (local time) to watch the premiere.
In an opening scene in the documentary, McDonagh boldly stated that New York City has always been the cockpit of Irish-American Republicanism.
“And it was a great honour when they read the Proclamation in the GPO (in 1916),” he said.
“They said ‘Her (Ireland’s) children in America’ and you’re looking at them.”
Noraid: Irish America & the IRA begins tonight at 9.35pm on RTÉ One.
