Irish Unity Summit Gallery

The IAUC co-sponsored and participated in the Irish Unity Summit held in New York City on March 1. The venue was the historic Great Hall at Cooper Union where many of the nation’s leading figures, including Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, have spoken. The theme of the day was unification of Ireland North and South, and the Summit was headlined by Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald, who delivered a compelling speech on the urgent need for preparing now for a vote on unification. She reminded the audience that the Good Friday Agreement includes provision for a referendum as a right. She projected 2030 as a target for holding the vote and emphasized the importance of educating the voting public by holding citizens assemblies and developing proposals. The Great Hall was filled with Irish American enthusiasts who came away invigorated with renewed commitment to advocate for a united and free Ireland.