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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > The man leading the fight to legalize the undocumented Irish in America - A quiet hero takes a bow in San Francisco at the American Ireland Fund dinner

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

The man leading the fight to legalize the undocumented Irish in America - A quiet hero takes a bow in San Francisco at the American Ireland Fund dinner

Posted on Saturday, March 09, 2013 at 07:40 AM

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ILIR chairman Bart Murphy (center) with fellow ILIR advocates Kelly FIncham, Bruce Morrison, Celine Kennelly and Ciaran Staunton

San Francisco: The American Ireland Fund annual dinner here in San Francisco honored Bart Murphy, one of those quiet heroes of the Irish American community who too often get overlooked.

I made the 3,000 mile journey to pay homage to a friend of long standing, but also a man who will play a key role in the future of the Irish in this country.

I was delighted when the American Ireland Fund, the most prestigious Irish group in the U.S., decided on Bart as their California honoree. It was an acknowledgement of the importance of an issue and of a man who has decided not to play it safe with some worthy charity, but to try and help Irish in the U.S. who desperately need that help.

There are up to 50,000 of them scattered around the U.S. and with the fall-out from the last election still resonating the opportunity has suddenly arisen that the GOP will finally act on the issue of immigration reform which has been stalled for decades.

If they do, Bart Murphy will be a key player. Bart, a lawyer and successful real estate investor is Chairman of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, an organization that will be the first responder in the Irish bid to legalize the thousands of Irish who have the misfortune to live in undocumented status in America.

Chairman of ILIR is a job I once held and it is a tough one, carrying the hopes and dreams of so many thousands of Irish undocumented on your shoulders

But Bart Murphy has broad shoulders.

His selfless efforts on behalf of those undocumented and the many other great causes he is involved in led over 500 people to pay tribute to him last night at a packed St. Francis ballroom in downtown San Francisco.

Rarely have I heard a more spontaneous reaction to an honoree at an Irish event.

The standing ovation went on for minutes and the genuine warmth and affection for Murphy, who could easily focus on increasing the family fortune rather than spend so much time working on Irish causes, was very evident.

Focusing on helping the Irish undocumented is not the sexiest gig in the Irish American community. It is an issue many Irish Americans shun, not wanting to be reminded of an immigrant issue that doesn’t fit easily into an Irish toast on St. Patrick’s Day.

But Bart Murphy has taken it on and his time has come as the issue comes center stage. I can report from San Francisco that it is in very good hands.

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Seanmor | Mar 11, 2013, 10:39 PM EDT

howareya: You make a few very good points, and let me add one more: no one should ever rewarded for entering the U.s. ILLEGALLY, lest it send the wrong message to other potential law-breakers. But this is a land of immigrants and well educated, highly skilled, English-speaking immigrants who are readly and willing to make valuable contributions to this country also eager to assimilate, should be given PRIORITY over those who are far less equipped to beccome good U.S. citizens. As a former marine with 4 years of HONORABLE service and as a current Commander of an American Legion post, I fully support granting thousands of visas to the latter group of immigrants.

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howareya | Mar 11, 2013, 07:38 PM EDT

My usual rant...along with the 15,000 Irish illegals, we are about to legalize close to 20 million illegal Hispanics. Thanks Bart! This country cannot take all the world's poor!!! What about the poor in the South African nations..some are being slaughtered. What about the poor in Eastern European nations, we should allow them to come as well. What about the poor Koreans or Chinese or or or...We are like the lifeboats with the Titanic. We are full and taking on the drowning people will sink us all. Wake up America! It's all for the votes not for our (the legal residents and citizens)good!

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anglo-norman | Mar 10, 2013, 07:09 PM EDT

then deport them.

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curtisjohnson | Mar 10, 2013, 06:46 PM EDT

Yes, and his article doesn't dispute that.

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anglo-norman | Mar 10, 2013, 04:19 PM EDT

These illegals broke the law.

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curtisjohnson | Mar 09, 2013, 10:34 PM EST

"The Law is the law Mr O'Dowd..." uh - Bart Murphy is trying to change the law.

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pilib04 | Mar 09, 2013, 08:45 PM EST

Bruce Morrison? Wow that takes me back!

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anglo-norman | Mar 09, 2013, 08:13 PM EST

The Law is the law Mr O'Dowd...

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Seanmor | Mar 09, 2013, 07:53 PM EST

I don't know a thing about Bart's background, but I'm reminded of the Bart Murphy I first met in front of the armory in Jamacia, Queens, on the morning of Dec. 1st, 1965. We both members of the 600 class of trainees for the Transit Police Dept. Bart later became a founding member of the Transit Police Pipeband and was soon promoted to Detective. This popular Cork native also became active in the St. Patrick's Day parades. The BartMurphy who is now the Chairman of the Irish Lobby deserves our strongest support.

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irelandmusic | Mar 09, 2013, 06:23 PM EST

Gee I feel for people who want to be here and are good people who will work and respect the law but I must say you as an American cant go to Ireland and get a work permit. You have to be on their desired employment list or have alot of money to invest in a business there that will provide jobs to improve the economy.

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myhomenj | Mar 09, 2013, 06:08 PM EST

ILLEGALS SHOULD BE GIVEN A CHOICE 1) GO TO JAIL 2) go home

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Phaenius | Mar 09, 2013, 05:17 PM EST

As much as I love anything Irish, living in Texas with such a huge illegal alien problem, I cannot see the consistency of me fighting the notion to legalize the currantly illegal Hispanic folk and accepting the notion to allow illegal Irish imigration into America.

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Xave | Mar 09, 2013, 04:35 PM EST

I have to say it sickens me and makes me ashamed to think of ilegal aliens looking for green cards. As far as im concerned they are entitled to one thing..directions to the airport. I returned home form the US many years ago due to family reasons and ended up loosing my green card. i could have gone back ilegally but i respect the law. I have been a visitor to Nashvile on about 5 occasions since 2011 and i return home at the end of my vacation as the law decrees. No sympathy for ilegasl from me and my friends in the US dont want them either. Make them do 5 years military service and go to Iraq and Afghanistan. Xave Ryan.

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89west | Mar 09, 2013, 01:21 PM EST

Seeing as Irish politicians and their minions are so fond of the likes of Hugo Chavez and like ilk around the world, why don't they see if there is a welcome in their countries for Ireland's unwanted that are illegally here in this Country.

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Pittsburghkid | Mar 09, 2013, 01:02 PM EST

And what about the Irish immigrants that followed the rules? Law is the Law, and breaking the law make you a criminal.

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