Dems Recall Joe Cahill

That was quite an opening statement by Congressman Richie Neal at the Irish American Democrats event on Sunday in Boston on the eve of the convention.

Neal told a packed hall that a great hero of his had just died, none other than Joe Cahill, former chief of staff of the IRA who passed away at age 84. Neal stated that Cahill was one of the most remarkable men he had ever met, a fearless soldier yet one who turned to making peace when the time came.

Even a few years back the notion of a former IRA leader being eulogized at a Democratic convention event would have been outlandish.

Even better, Neal then stated that Cahill’s move to peaceful politics had been greatly helped by the woman standing behind him, Senator Hillary Clinton, and her husband President Bill Clinton. Without them, Neal remarked, men like Cahill would never have had the opportunity to come to the peace table.

High Praise From Hillary

SENATOR Hillary Clinton’s effusive words at the event for Stella O’Leary, head of Irish American Democrats, were well deserved. 

O’Leary has raised over $500,000 for the former first lady in just a few years, and has become one of the best fundraisers that Clinton has. O’Leary is a very dogged and determined advocate of Irish issues. She proved that after the 2000 election when, despite the fact that she and her organization had been major backers of Al Gore, she picked herself up after his heartbreaking loss and went on to work hard for Hillary and a slew of other candidates.

Neal’s Senate Ambitions

SPEAKING of Richie Neal, the convention is also a very important occasion for the Springfield congressman. Neal is said to harbor ambitions for the Senate seat of John Kerry if he becomes president, or indeed if he steps down if he doesn’t win. 

Already many well-known names such as Congressman Ed Markey and State Speaker Thomas Finnernan are expected to announce as soon as it is definite that Kerry, win or lose, will not run again.

Neal would be a dark horse, coming from the west of the state which is far less populated. However, if there was a scramble in the Boston area and several candidates run, Neal would have a clear run from the west of the state.

It is noticeable too that the likeable Neal has raised over $2 million already, hardly the sum needed to win his congressional seat again. 

Neal faces no significant opposition. On his side is the fact that Senator Edward Kennedy is said to be a big fan.

Even if Neal does not run for the Senate, there will be no shortage of Irish names. In addition to Markey there will be Finneran; Attorney General Thomas Reilly is also considering a run.

Then, of course, one or two of Senator Kennedy’s relatives, such as former Congressman Joe Kennedy, may decide to throw their name in the ring. It promises to be an exciting period.

Is Kerry Actually Irish?

PEGGY Kerry, sister of John, had an interesting insight into the family name when speaking with Irish Times reporter Conor O’Clery at the convention. 

Kerry said that during a visit to the family’s ancestral hometown in Austria she came across a slew of people with the last name Kerry in the phone book.

When she inquired about them she was told that they belonged to many Austrians of Irish ancestry whose forebears had come over from Ireland to serve in the Catholic Austrian army. They were members of the Wild Geese, those tens of thousands of Irish émigrés who left Ireland in an exodus that also became known as the flight of the earls.

Kerry seemed to be saying that the family history — that they are descended from a Jewish family in Austria — may not be correct after all, and that the last name Kerry may actually be originally the family name.

Certainly an interesting thought, given the fact that there has been such controversy over how Kerry never knew his grandparents were Jewish, and always thought he was Irish.

Irish Get Better Treatment

BRIAN O’Dwyer, the New York lawyer who is head of the national ethnic coalition group for the Democratic Party, says there is a marked difference in the atmosphere at the Democratic convention from four years ago.

Speaking from Boston, O’Dwyer stated that the kinds of turf battles and petty infighting is all gone, and that he has never seen a Democratic Party so united as they are on this occasion.

O’Dwyer says that view extends to the Irish part of the program. Many activists complained in 2000 that the Gore people treated them very shabbily and essentially ignored their issue. Not so this time, says O’Dwyer, who notes that they have been treated very well and their concerns listened to.

A New Role For Flynn?

WILL there be a role in the Kerry campaign for former Boston mayor and ambassador to the Vatican Ray Flynn?

Flynn changed sides in the last election, backing George W. Bush on the right to life issue. However, he is very close to Kerry and his support was a key factor when Kerry first won his seat in the Senate in 1984. Flynn delivered most of the Irish neighborhoods in Boston on that occasion despite every other party bigwig siding with Congressman Jim Shannon.

That may well entice Kerry and Flynn to get together again. Certainly having a former Vatican ambassador and leading right to life advocate on his side would not harm Kerry with conservative Catholic voters.