CELTIC CROSS AWARDS -- Stormont Watch

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Date Posted: Wed, Nov 07 2007, 2:28:21 PST
Author: DERRY PRESENTATIONS
Subject: CELTIC CROSS AWARDS

Note to Derry Journal:

PLEASE RETURN DISC OF PICS-FOR PLANNED WEBSITE-THANKS!

U.S. Celtic Cross Family Awards

Photographed recently at the Museum of Free Derry in the Bogside, were several recipients of a prestigious Irish-American Award. Fifteen awards were presented to several families and others to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Civil Rights Movement. L-R: Members of the Coyle, McClean, Kelly, Cooper, Canavan and Hume families.

Each cross was blessed and presented by the founder of the Celtic Cross Awards Society, Rev. Fr. Robert J. Doherty, third from left. Also honoured was Bishop Edward Daly, second from right. Included in the picture, (extreme right) is Mrs. Sheila Mc Clean, (nee Mc Guinness), who designed the original black and white �Oak Leaf� logo and badge of the Derry Civil Rights Association. The original artwork was recently donated to the Museum of Free Derry. The best known recipient of the Celtic Cross was Raymond L. Flynn, a Mayor of Boston, who later was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Vatican City.

Three presentations were arranged by local historian, Fionnbarra O�Dochartaigh, a co-founder of the civil rights movement in Belfast in 1967. A previous ceremony took place after the weekly Sunday morning Gaelic Mass at the Nazareth House. Those honoured included the O�Donghaile, O�Mianain, Mac Gabhann and O�Dochartaigh clans. These families were honoured because of their contribution to the establishment of Irish-language medium schools, traditional music and the promotion of other facets of native culture. The grandchild of a Bogside community activist, the late Eileen Collins, (nee Sheils), who died in June, was also presented with a special memorial award.

The first presentations took place at Derry Guildhall. Special � Memorial Awards� were presented to Mr. O�Dochartaigh, in recognition of the life-long community work of his late mother, Mary Ellen, who also died in June, aged 99. Leading veterans often referred to her as �The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement�. Also at the Mayor�s Parlour to receive an award and a financial donation were representatives of the local Women�s Aid Centre who accepted the cross in memory of the centre�s late founder Kathy Harkin, (nee Kavanagh). Another recipient of the cross was Mrs. Mary Carlin, the widow of Cllor. Tony Carlin, a former nationalist Mayor of Derry in the late 1980s, who shortly before his death was a co-founder the local De Valera branch of Fianna Fail,

During his two-week visit to Derry Fr. Robert Doherty celebrated Mass at St. Eugene�s and the Long Tower, often twice daily, in addition to the Sunday Gaelic Mass at the Nazareth House, on Bishop Street.

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