The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), the oldest and largest Irish Catholic organization in the US, has again called upon US President Donald Trump to appoint a Special Envoy to Northern Ireland.
The AOH said in a statement on Friday, May 30, that it made its latest formal appeal to Trump amid "a disturbing rise in sectarian violence targeting members of the Catholic community."
The AOH said on Friday: "Recent attacks in Belfast and Derry, including the forced displacement of Catholic families and the brutal beating of a young autistic man, underscore growing concerns that peace in Northern Ireland is under renewed threat.
"In the wake of Pope Francis’s death, incidents of religious provocation have further strained tensions, with DUP [Democratic Unionist Party] government officials reportedly present at events marked by sectarian mockery."
The role of US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland was most recently held by Joe Kennedy III, who was appointed by US President Joe Biden in December 2022. However, Kennedy's tenure concluded when Biden exited the White House after the 2024 election, leaving the post empty since then.
Neil F. Cosgrove, AOH National Political Education Chair, said: “These are not isolated events.
“They reflect a dangerous escalation of sectarianism and a return to intimidation tactics that threaten to unravel decades of hard-won peace.”
The AOH emphasized the historic role the United States played in brokering the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and warned that the absence of a US envoy now signals a retreat from that legacy.
“Peace in Northern Ireland is not yet self-sustaining,” Cosgrove stated.
“It requires continued vigilance and engagement. Appointing a Special Envoy is not symbolic—it’s strategic. It tells the world that America still stands for peace, democracy, and mutual respect.”
The organization is requesting two immediate actions from the White House:
- The appointment of a US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland with a mandate to monitor the situation, facilitate dialogue, and reassert American diplomatic presence.
- A clear public reaffirmation of the US commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and the rights of all communities to live free from fear and sectarian intimidation.
“We are not asking for a new commitment,” said Cosgrove. “We are asking America to honor the one it made—a promise that helped build peace and must not be abandoned.”
Text of the AOH letter to Trump regarding "continued Absence of a US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Amid Renewed Sectarian Attacks"
Dear President Trump,
I write to you on behalf of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America (AOH), the nation’s oldest and largest Irish Catholic organization, to express our deep concern over the recent escalation in sectarian violence in Northern Ireland targeting members of the Catholic community and to once again urge you to appoint of a US Special Envoy to the region.
In recent weeks, Catholic families on Annalee Street in Belfast have been forced to abandon their homes following coordinated attacks designed to drive them from a mixed community development. Catholics have been assaulted, including a young autistic man in Derry whose beating included vicious kicks to the head while he was defenseless on the ground. There have also been incidents of grotesque religious mockery following the death of Pope Francis, with senior DUP government ministers in attendance.
These are not isolated acts but part of a pattern of intimidation with clear sectarian overtones—an attempt to return to an intolerant past rather than to embrace an inclusive future.
Mr. President, your administration has shown a willingness to appoint special envoys to a wide range of global concerns. Given this, it is increasingly difficult to understand why Northern Ireland, where peace was hard-won and the importance of the role of the US Special Envoy was so clearly demonstrated, continues to be overlooked by your administration. The absence of a Special Envoy and US presence in Northern Ireland sends a concerning message at a moment when renewed sectarian threats demand vigilance and engagement.
The United States played a central role in the success of the Good Friday Agreement. That peace, a model for the world, now faces renewed tests. Without active US engagement, the momentum of reconciliation risks stalling—or worse, reversing. A Special Envoy is not merely symbolic; it signifies that America remains committed to the values of peace, democracy, and mutual respect that underpinned that historic agreement.
We respectfully request:
-
That a US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland be appointed without delay, empowered to monitor the current situation, support dialogue, and re-establish America’s presence as a constructive force for peace.
- That your administration publicly reaffirms its commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and the principle that no community should live under threat because of their identity, faith, or background.
We are not asking for anything new, Mr. President—only that America stay the course, preserve its legacy, and honor the role it played in building a better future for all in Northern Ireland.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Neil F. Cosgrove
National Political Education Chair
Ancient Order of Hibernians
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