The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-01

Ireland is near the final effort for complete freedom and independ- ence", Joseph Desmond Brennan vice consul-general for Fire at New York, told cheering crowd of more than 300 at the annual St. Patrick's $ dinner of the IriSh-American Social club at The Elton last night. The help of America may be needed, said MT. Brennan, as Ireland strives 10 remove from British sovereignty the six northeastern counties which a. lone now pay allegiance to the crown.
 MT. Brennan was the last of a brilliant group of speakers who praised the heroism of the Ireland of the past and the accomplish ments of the Ireland of the present. The important contributions of Irish settlers to this country, and the part played by Irish immigrants in the development of Waterbury were re- counted.
 T was told before I came here", said MT Brennan" that America was terrible place. At least that was the view of some English writers who came over for a fortnight. But I've found that America is a won- derful place; America is really a greater Ireland"
 Ireland's Debt to America
 "The people at home are delight ed at the advantages that their kins- men enjoy here, but the many bene- fits that Americans enjoy cannot be realized until one lives here. We heard for many years, and our speakers tonight have pointed it out, that America owes a great deal to Ireland. But let us not forget that Ireland owes more to America. You gave a haven to the millions who had to leave Ireland, but we want to keep them home now. For now we have fine government, working all the time to better conditions, and the Irish at home can help US gain benefits comparable to those you have in the United States.
 MT DeValera has made a free independent, democratic state of ai- most all Ireland. His part of Ireland is remaining completely neutral in the European war. There's a popular song. There's something yet for Irishmen to do, and that something is to bring those six counties in the We all desire nothing more than that final independence of which we dream; we don't know exactly how it will come about, but we know that it will come. The martyrs Of Easter Week of 1916 did not fall in vain."
 MT. Brennan declared that gerry and unfair laws allowed a minority in the North of Ireland to keep control of the government. In his own city of Derry, he said. those of Nationalist sympathieS far outnumbered Ulsterites, but were all lowed only a small representation on the city counci. The same is true elsewhere, he said: He cited the ad- vances made by Irish industry and agriculture in recent years, and said that the modern Ireland is an "ac- tive, living, hard-Working nation.
 Easter Week Rebellion
 Rev. Joseph F. Donnelly, assist ant pastor of St. Thomas church, recalled the events of the Easter Week rebellion. Britain, he said, re- fused to heed Ireland's pleas at the Versailles peace conference after the World War. The same Britain, he said, talks glibly today about the freedom of small nations while striv- ing to keep the power of empire, yet insists on holding domination over part of Ireland. The part played by Ireland through the centuries in lit erature, music and general culture