We Shall Never Speak of This Again

James Dan Casey



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A tragic story of a people demoralized by centuries of human rights violations and how a crop failure became a humanitarian crisis that changed Ireland forever.


The Irish and Irish Catholics in particular were maltreated and persecuted for centuries by the English government. Catholics could not own land, vote, hold public office, or practice their religion. In 1801, with the hope of a just result, Irish Parliament dissolved, and the power of the governance of Ireland was placed in the hands of Parliament in London. Along with the merge came a promise for Catholic Emancipation for Ireland. It was a ruse. King George rejected Emancipation out of hand, leaving the Irish and Irish Catholics in particular in an untenable position. This outcome would leave Ireland weakened and vulnerable as it headed into the most horrific times in Irish history. 


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We Shall Never Speak of This Again


Introduction

This is not the land of my birth, but it is the land for which I hold the greatest affection.   


        John F. Kennedy, Speaking of Ireland

 


      Seventy million people in the world are said to have Irish ancestry. If you are reading this, you may be one of them. However, many of these millions are unaware of the relentless and prolonged racial and religious persecution perpetrated on the Irish and Irish Catholics in a period of history when Irish Catholics could not vote, own land, bear arms, hold public office or even worship together unless it was in hiding. Centuries of English domination and authoritarianism crippled Irish resolve and left a beleaguered people unable to respond to the oppression. 

      A million Irish died of starvation and disease in the Potato Famine, a famine that could have been largely mitigated by England, Ireland’s supposed sister country. Millions also emigrated throughout the 19th and into the 20th century. More than a million left during the Famine, literally driven out of Ireland by England’s dogged attempt to depopulate the island. A country of more than 8 million at the mid-19th century shriveled to nearly half that by 1900. This book will tell the story of that dark time in Irish history. Volumes have been written about Ireland’s history in the 19th century. This is a concise but informative version of that sad tale.

      With family, most of us have very little tolerance of abuse from others. It should be the same for our ancestors. This book about your family and mine was written with the purpose of identifying those responsible for the maltreatment of the Irish and determining their accountability. The Catholic Irish were subjected to centuries of human rights violations. The draconian Penal Laws of the 18th century literally stripped Irish Catholics of their basic human rights. The farce titled the Act of Union removed Ireland’s right to govern itself and put all power in London. The English government dispossessed Irish Catholics of their land. This story will describe a token Catholic Emancipation in the 19th Century that did not live up to its name. You will read of an English Parliament that was totally indifferent to and bore no sympathy for the Irish during the Potato Famine. Furthermore, their actions and omissions seemed to fulfill their desire to eliminate one quarter of the Irish population for their self-serving needs. Was anyone called to account for these egregious acts? This book will identify those responsible and their centuries of human rights violations. This happened to your family.

       Read this book. You will experience outrage, frustration, sadness and finally a glimmer of hope. It should instill in you a new Irish pride. If it does not, then I haven’t accomplished my goal.   

      The Irish family included in this history is named Casey, my family. Imagine your family in this history because they would have received the same abuse as mine. Many Irish did not survive it; likely some of my family as well as yours died. Their descendants are missing from the Irish diaspora of today. 

      My family became part of the millions who emigrated, the millions who had hopes and dreams for a better life in a New World. I sincerely hope this book causes you to take a new look at your heritage and to be cognizant of your ancestors at your next family gathering or reunion. They are there with you and within you. 


Testimonial

Dr. Vonda, Editor


Author James Dan Casey, himself a descendant of Irish immigrants, masterfully describes the hostility between Ireland and England. Casey is a strong and engaging author and careful researcher. He has incorporated a distinct and unique voice in the writing of his book. 

James Dan Casey

Author - We Shall Never Speak of This Again

James Dan Casey, an Irish descendant, grew up on the Kansas land homesteaded in 1878 by his great grandfather, an Irish immigrant. The land has remained in his family for 143 years and is currently farmed by his brother Jay and his wife Valerie. James has had a lifelong fascination with Irish history and his family that immigrated from Ireland. Casey’s intrigue with his ancestry and passion for writing has culminated in his first book. The author spent years in corporate positions in Kansas and California, but left the corporate jungle for the blackboard jungle. As a sixth grade teacher he endeavored to instill a desire for his students to express emotion and enthusiasm in their writing and experience the joy of completing a masterful piece. James currently lives about 35 miles from the homestead and enjoys time with his two grown children and nine grandchildren as well as his siblings. He plans to continue writing nonfiction historical books.

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dan@jamesdancasey.com

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