S18G4

Irish Northern Aid(Noraid) was established in 1970 during the Northern Ireland conflict. The group’s immediate goal was to assist those directly affected by the conflict, such as defense groups.   Noraid’s commitment to the Northern Ireland Conflict took root in the group’s belief that in order to protect Irish identity, believing it to be lost through forced assimilation and American politics, it must protect those who were fighting to unify the country. While the Irish Republican Army(IRA) had many critics both in Ireland and abroad, due to its extreme violence, Noraid was determined to help a group it felt defended Irish identity and would not be deterred in the face of hardship from both British and American politics. NORAID decided to help the PIRA in order to aid the public perception of the Irish American. NORAID was upset that even in the mid 20 th century, that Irish Americans were seen as outsiders in American society and they believed that PIRA would change that. Bel...

            I do not believe that NORAID and other similar groups should exist in the United States. In a way these groups are only causing unnecessary hostility within the U.S. At this point the United States had been a free country, and was not under control of the British any longer. If these people were living freely within America, they should be focused on keeping that freedom and should be more involved in American government rather than what is going on within Ireland. It is understandable that some of these members felt close to their Irish heritage, and were rather disappointed at what was going on in Ireland at the time. But overall if they were now living in the United States and had that freedom that was very clearly earned, they should not try to drag the issues of the PIRA into the U.S. They were threatening the order within the United States and were being attached to things happening within Ireland as Hanley mentio...

Rachel Sousa NORAID reading 1)       Noraid’s premise for existing was to advocate for the Irish after perceived abuse by America and the British. Irish immigrants in America were exploited and discriminated against and Irish citizens struggled for their independence from Britain; these two scenarios inspired the birth of Noraid. Representatives from the PIRA and Irish activists in New York founded the Noraid. The purpose of the group was to provide “financial and practical assistance to nationalist districts in the north”. Eventually, the group supported the families of Irish prisoners who advocated for Irish independence. In addition, they subtly raised money for arms for activists. At first, the group wanted to gain support from Irish Americans to the plight in Ireland but the public perceived them as the “ sole representative” of the PIRA in America. Noraid wanted to spread the influence of PIRA and try to convince Irish republicans...