NATIONAL IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE
CUMANN NA SAOIRSE NÁISIÚNTA
http://www.irishfreedom.net/ The Michael and Pearl Flannery Annual Testimonial Awards Dinner
Honoree Mary Holt Moore
The 2006 Pearl Flannery Humanities Award is presented to Mary Holt Moore.
It was no accident that when the committee determined to honor the men of Easter Week, and to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 1916 Rising, they chose Mary Holt Moore as Grand Marshal of the 230th New York Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in 1991. A native New Yorker whose heritage, activities and ideology reflect that watershed of Irish history, Mrs. Moore is one of five children born to Charles and Ann O’Rourke Holt. Charles Holt of Rathdrum, County Wicklow, a descendant of General Joseph Holt, Commander of the Wicklow Rebels in the Rising of 1798, served during the Easter Rising as a courier for Erskine Childers. After emigration to New York he became active both with Clan-na-Gael (Erin’s Hope) and with Conradh na Gaedhilge (the Gaelic League). In the course of several ocean-crossings, he saw to the safe transit of many good men and women on the run (including Liam Mellows, both ways); he served directly under Cathal Brugha, Minister for War of the Irish Republic. Ann O’Rourke Holt of Kiltyclogher, County Leitrim was an Ó Ruairc of Breifne and a cousin to Seán Mac Diarmada, one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic. In New York she was active with the Gaelic League and with the Friends of Irish Freedom; Charlie Holt worked with Ann’s cousin Rose McDermott (Seán’s sister), who as secretary in the Seaman’s Church near Castle Garden, facilitated getting the men on the run up to the safety of the Irish Carmelite Mission on 28th Street. Mrs. Moore’s uncle, Sam O’Reilly, whose father John Kevin O’Reilly wrote “Wrap the Green Flag ‘Round me, Boys”, was the last man to leave the GPO with Pádraic Pearse.
Nor was it any accident that her upbringing infused an appreciation of all things Irish into Mary, which she took with her, and enhanced in St. Anselm’s School, Cathedral High School, Hunter College, Columbia University and the College of New Rochelle. As a Special Education teacher for the New York City Board of Education, as well as instructing in Irish language, history and céilí dancing with the Bronx Gaelic League, Mrs. Moore shared her passion for all types of learning with generations of children and adults.
Thomas A. Moore, an Ó Mordha of Laois, born in Ballylongford, Co. Kerry, Tom is a retired Deputy Chief of the Fire Department of New York City and was a medic with the US Army’s 97th Infantry Division (WWII) in Europe. He and Mary Holt Moore have passed this love of education and of Irish culture to their eight children and twenty grandchildren. Seven of their children graduated from Iona College (Irish Christian Brothers) where they were involved in the Gaelic Society and the Iona Pipe Band. Their oldest son, Thomas, is disabled. Pipe Major Kevin O’Rourke Moore and his brothers Dermot and Patrick are co-founders of The Kerry Pipers.
Mrs. Moore is an active participant in the Irish community: former president, Bronx Gaelic League, and Council of Gaelic Societies; former VP, Bronx County Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Historian Div. 3 Rockland LAOH; member Emerald Society of the New York City Board of Education; County Leitrim Society. Her contributions have been recognized over the years: North American Feis Commission Irish Cultural Hall of Fame; Irish American Legislators’ Award; Bardic Award of the Irish American Cultural Center; Irish American Unity Conference Award for Leadership in Irish Culture. Mary Holt Moore has been named Irish Woman of the Year by: New York City Board of Education; Div. 3, Bronx AOH; Emerald Society of the Telephone and Communication Workers; Emerald Society of the Fire Department of New York; 2003 Woman of Distinction, New York State Senate. She has been honored by the Kerrymen’s P&B Assn, the Irish National Caucus and the American Irish Defense Fund.
In recognition of the continuity of her devotion to the bright dream of the Men and Women of 1916, of her untiring efforts for the propagation of Irish language and culture, and of her exemplary fulfillment of Thomas Davis’ injunction “Educate that you might be free,” the 2006 Pearl Flannery Humanities Award.
Show Mary and the other honorees your support by placing an ad in the commerative journal!
SOUVENIR JOURNAL CONTRACT
THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL MICHAEL FLANNERY TESTIMONIAL AWARDS DINNER
ON
FRIDAY JANUARY 27th 2006
AT THE ASTORIA WORLD MANOR, ASTORIA, NEW YORK
This year’s honorees will be:
Mary Holt Moore The Pearl Flannery Spirit of Freedom Award
Karen Lewis The Sr. Sarah Clarke Human Rights Award
Larry Kirwan The Michael Flannery Spirit of Freedom Award
Cumann Na Saoirse Naisiunta will produce a commemorative ad journal to mark the event. This ad journal promises to be a truly special collector’s item. It designed by the world’s foremost Celtic folk artist Brian Mór Ó Baoighill. Samples of the art will be posted on our website.
Please consider purchasing an ad. to mark this historic occasion
FULL PAGE $100.00 HALF PAGE $50.00
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The closing date for ads is Jan. 21st. 2006
Please send your ad, check or M.O. to
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NATIONAL IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE
CUMANN NA SAOIRSE NÁISIÚNTA
http://www.irishfreedom.net/
