-
-
Author: Dave O'Connell
~ 3 minutes read
It was a moment of political high drama that was to change the destiny of thousands of Irish people over the 35 years since – and more critically it allowed so many of our undocumented emigrants to emerge from the shadows in the United States.
To all 26,000 who benefitted, it will forever be known as the Donnelly Visa –called after the Bostonian with North Galway roots who went to the brink to ensure its safe passage through Congress.
Brian Donnelly was back in Galway last week on his first visit ‘home’ since 1994, in the company of the nephew he calls the ‘reverse emigrant’ – Larry Donnelly, the Boston-born, UG law lecturer who has made his home back in the land of his forefathers.
Brian still vividly recalls the lead-up to that immigration reform programme back in 1986 which initially looked like it was largely overlooking the Irish – until a small but vital group of Democratic ex-pats pulled a perfectly legitimate political stunt.
“So much in life is about three things – the right person in the right place at the right time. I guess I was that person,” he says modestly.
“I’d heard so many stories in Boston – and particularly around the Irish community in Dorchester – of people who were in the US without a work permit who couldn’t go home for family funerals and other important events.
“The Immigration Act was going through Congress at that time; a once in a generation chance to make a difference. But we needed our wits to make sure it worked for the Irish.
“It had sailed through the Senate, and they thought the same thing would happen in Congress – but I felt that the Irish were not guaranteed a fair share of the visas. So a group of us like-minded Irish-American Democrats met in a Washington pub called the Dubliner to hatch a plan,” he says.
That plan was simple; each vote had a fifteen-minute window for Congress members to decide their stance – and right at the last minute this group would vote ‘no’ and then all bar Brian Donnelly would leave the Chamber before party whips could get them to change their minds.
Read the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune:
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
More like this:
Carrabane pupils to feature in online magazine with rap about Sustainable Development Goals
The work of pupils from Carrabane School has featured in an online magazine. It features the work...
Over 400 organ donors and families in Salthill to be honoured in ceremony in Salthill
Over four hundred organ donor recipients and their families will be celebrated at a special cerem...
Galway’s Boston Scientific and Merit Medical awarded best in class for Workplace Wellness
Galway’s Boston Scientific and Merit Medical have been awarded best in class for Workplace Wellne...
Interim CEO appointed at Galway Chamber
An Interim CEO has been appointed at Galway Chamber. Deirdre Mac Loughlin is currently a member o...
Loughrea company aquired by leading pharmaceutial and life sciences company
Neylons Facility Management, based in Loughrea, has been aquired by a leading pharmaceutial and l...
Glenamaddy student wins top prize at SciFest@TUS Athlone
A Glenamaddy student has taken home the top prize at SciFest@TUS Athlone, one of Ireland’s larges...
Two Galway schools take home awards at Kinia Creative Technology Awards
Two Galway schools have taken home awards at the Kinia Creative Technology Week. The event,now in...
Local resident lodges appeal to An Bord Pleanala over expansion plans at Galway Clinic
An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala over considerable expansion plans at Galway Clini...
Tri-lingual Casla service for people with disabilities nominated for major national award
Casla Resource Centre, which provides tri-lingual day services in Connemara, has been nominated f...