ILIR Sunday at Gaelic Park

Gaelic Park in the Bronx will open its gates this Sunday for a day of sporting entertainment, but on June 27 all the proceeds will be donated to the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR).

The New York GAA is hosting a field day with six games back to back, with all proceeds to support ILIR, which continues to fight for a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

Larry McCarthy, chairman of the New York GAA said, “Immigration reform is a very important issue to the New York GAA with a solution to the future flow of Irish emigrants coming into the United States the very existence of the New York GAA and others around the country,”

He added, “This is a wonderful opportunity for us at Gaelic Park to show our support for those who have been working over the last four years to achieve immigration reform.

“What is key now is that we all support the work that is being done by the ILIR, help them in whatever way they need and come out and support them on Sunday, June 27, at Gaelic Park.”

Over the past few months ILIR has traveled to the White House, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Boston, New Jersey, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Montana, where members have met with the Irish and Irish American impressing upon them the importance of contacting their politicians and aiding with the fight for comprehensive immigration reform.

Ciaran Staunton, president of ILIR said, “The GAA have been instrumental to our continued success around the country.”

He added, “Since the collapse of the Kennedy/McCain bill the ILIR has worked diligently around the country to make contact with influential senators and those on the Judiciary Committee, and the organizations like the GAA and the AOH have been instrumental in most of those cities setting up meetings and helping us getting the word out.”

Staunton credited GAA members in Boston for setting up a first of a kind meeting with Senator Scott Brown a few months ago and said the “very successful” meeting wouldn’t have been possible without the GAA’s influence.

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Nster.com