Call for US contribution to 1916 to be acknowledged

A series of meetings have been held in New York to allay concerns among some Irish Americans regarding the Government’s 1916 centenary commemorations.

The meetings involved the Irish consulate and focused on issues like the desire of Irish Americans to ensure James Connolly’s role in the Rising is properly honoured, especially his work as a union organiser in the US.

New York lawyer and Irish-American leader Brian O’Dwyer said: “There had been some dissatisfaction but there have been meetings here with historians and community leaders and the like and the consul general has convened a couple of meetings on the planning for 2016 and these meetings were very positive.