February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Feighery, who edited the Ancient Order of Hibernians newspaper Hibernian Digest, died Sunday at Einstein Medical Center in the Bronx.
He had been ill and a patient in the hospital for the past six weeks. Feighery’s death was due to complications from a pancreatic disorder, said his brother Kevin. He was 63.
A Bronx native and graduate of Fordham, Feighery is survived by three brothers, Kevin, Thomas and John, a sister Ellen, nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his brother, William.
“Frank’s untiring efforts with the Digest for the last eight years through the Presidency of Tom Gilligan and myself have been nothing short of amazing. He will be greatly missed,” AOH National President Ned McGinley said in a statement after learning of Feighery’s passing.
In addition to his work for the Hibernians, Feighery was also a former president of the United Irish Counties Association and president of the Offaly Association.
Feighery will be waked this Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m. and Friday, 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the John F. X. McKeon & Son Funeral Home, 3129 Perry Ave. in the Bronx. The phone number is (718) 655-6464.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Theresa’s of the Infant Jesus, 2855 St. Theresa Ave. in the Bronx on Saturday at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
MCALLISTER PLEA
The Irish American Unity in Action Committee has made another plea to the U.s. government on behalf of Belfast native Malachy McAllister.
In a letter to Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Michael Jackson, the committee asks for Jackson’s “intervention” in the case of McAllister and his children, Nicole and Sean.
The letter outlines the McAllister family’s long running bid to secure political asylum in this country and refers on part to the recent sympathetic interpretation of the case by federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry.
“The Secretary of Homeland Security surely has the discretion to suspend the deportation proceedings against Malachy McAllister and his family,” the signatories stated in the letter.
“We are making this request for two reasons. Not only has Mr. McAllister lived peaceably in this country for more than 10 years and has proven himself to be absolutely no threat whatsoever to this country, he has also actively supported the Good Friday agreement and has been a strong proponent of the Irish Peace Process which reflects the current policy of the administration,” they argued.
“Clearly, the McAllisters deserve to remain in this country where they have lived peacefully and have contributed so much for so many years,” the committee members concluded.
The letter bore 17 signatures including those of AOH National President Ned McGinley, Frank Durkan of Americans for a New Irish Agenda and James Cullen of the Brehon Law Society.
FINISHING ALL ALONE
One of the prizes was the Royal Mail Trophy but that would have been a bit of stretch.
But the St. David’s Lighthouse Trophy was a perfect capture for the 40-foot yacht that was first past the post weekend.
The winning boat qualified for the prize by being older than 25 years. The skipper was New Jersey native Peter Rebovich.
And the name of the triumphant barky? “Sinn F