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WRITING TO THE Department of Foreign Affairs in April 1973, Minnesota-based solicitor Daniel Dennis O’Connell wanted to know the current market value of a Republic of Ireland National Bond – dated 5 May 1886.
The $10 bond belonging to a client of O’Connell’s carried an annual interest rate of 6% and the solicitor’s client hoped to claim that interest by cashing in her bond. But there was a problem.
She was 50 years too late.
‘A donation’
State papers show a back-and-forth between government departments and diplomats attempting to figure out whether or not O’Connell’s client could cash in her nearly 100-year-old bond and collect her interest.
Often called “Fenian” bonds, these large sheets of paper were issued by republican groups in the 19th and early 20th centuries to raise money for the cause of Irish freedom.
It is believed that hundreds of thousands of these bonds were sold throughout America where veteran Fenians like John Devoy and Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa led the charge for Irish freedom across the Atlantic.
Sandra Heise, Curator of Historical Collections at the National Museum of Ireland, says that the museum holds several of these ‘Fenian’ bonds, dating mainly from 1866.
Ranging in value from $5 to $100 theses bonds feature images of Irish patriots like Wolfe Tone and James Stephens.
In 1866, a New York Times article reported that Fenians in Boston faced “unexpected difficulties” after questions arose about where people’s money was going when they purchased these bonds and just what it was being used for.
According to the article, “thousands of those who contributed their hard earnings…now feel that they have been the victims of designing men and demand a legal investigation”.
In Fenian circles, opinion was divided, however. “Those who are still hoping to see the independence of Ireland realised contend that there has been no fraud practiced whatever.”
The bonds themselves weren’t payable until after an Irish republic was established and, therefore, bond-holders knew full well this condition.
“The courts will have a nice question to decide, however, when it is shown that these bonds were issued for the purpose of invading a country with which the United States are at peace.”
While Boston courts may decide that these bonds are invalid, others at the time felt “that the money exchanged for these bonds was a simply a donation” and was never expected to be redeemable.
The value of bonds sold in Boston “during the Fenian excitement” was at least $100,000, according to The New York Times.
‘Un-exchanged bonds’
As for O’Connell’s client in Minnesota, the Department were the bearers of bad news.
When the first Dáil Éireann External Loan was being floated in the U.S.A in late 1919 and early 1920 there was widespread publicity informing Fenian Bond holders that they could exchange their Fenian bonds for new External Loan bonds, under the recently formed Irish government.
The newly-formed government upheld the original condition of the Fenian bond – they could be redeemed once an Irish republic had been established. Or in this case declared.
For 10 years – between June 1927 and October 1937 – there was an office operated by the now-independent Irish state at 117 Liberty Street, New York City where bond holders could redeem their bonds.
According to the Department, thousands of dollars were spent on and press and radio advertisements throughout America telling folks where they could redeem their Fenian bonds.
By 1973, the last Dáil Act relating to these bonds had expired and the New York office had closed. There were no longer arrangements in place for redeeming un-exchanged bonds.
The final date was 30 June 1936.
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He’s staying at Doonbeg
Be funny if he took the penthouse and just…wrecked the place…#leaveamarsbaronthecarpet
If only the democrats elected Bernie Sanders they messed up big time
Probably just looking for free pints. I’m sure within 2 hours of arriving he’ll be drunk as a skunk and devouring a half cooked kebab outside the Londis in Moneygall.
@Jimmy Hound: Why?
@Darragh O’Connell: He’s just projecting his Islamophobia.
@Darragh O’Connell: Don’t you know Obama’s father was a Muslim?
Forget halal, he’ll eat what ever he damn well likes. “Is feidir liom biatch”.
@O Swetenham: For the ignorant folks who red-thumbed my comment on Obama’s father being a Muslim, here’s the fact:-
@John Flanagan: I red-thumbed both your comments
@Tony Furlong: Aha, this makes you look an absolute fool…poor you!
I also redthumped your comments
A shitty website does not a fact make. Besides, his father isn’t a Muslim, he’s a Freemason and a lizard man from the moon.
Obama is almost certainly an Atheist.
His father is Muslim, he didn’t give him the middle name “Hussein” for the sake of it.
@turnitalloff: Go ahead & red-thumb anyone’s comments including mine as I’m not stopping you because I’m glad that Ireland’s still a free country after all unlike you & your lot who want the opposite option…
Just did
@turnitalloff: What do you expect me to do next? Okay, I’ll ignore you from now on as it’s clear to me that you’re either a little YGF who wears knee-high blue socks or an amateur troll who takes pleasure in annoying other folks here with your smart-arsey remarks however very short they are. Wish you a good day today!
@John Flanagan: My parents are Roman Catholic – I am an atheist.
Ok
John I red thumbed all your comments. You seem like a massive loser. Have a nice day.
@John Flanagan: They thumbed down your comment because it was moot. It’s irrelevant what his father is. Obama is not a Muslim (not that it matters).
@Tuot tuot: @Tuot tuot: I may be a massive loser to you but I think you are a coward for hiding your true identity here unlike me. I guess you must be a fellow Muslim from judging your Twitter page with Arabic links. Wish you a VERY nice day too!
Relax John. Everyone’s just having a friendly oul dig. No need to be so twitchy
John, by your logic, you should be judged by what your father did too. OK?
Or is it possible that we can become different people to our parents?!
So what if he’s a Muslim?
Whilst mentioning random facts about Barack Obamas father, he also married a Christian and a Jew.
He’s a big fan of eating dog also, having done so in his formative years whilst living abroad.
My father is Catholic, you don’t see me going to mass.
John Flanagan, ‘Don’t you know Obama’s father was a Muslim?’…so what, Jesus was a Jew!…is being muslim a disease?…It’s absolutely irrelevant what religion anyone is. If someone decides to commit a crime in the name of religion that is something entirely different but by their actions they have effectively committed tafkir.
I have to hide my identity…. To protect the ones I care about ;)
@Greg Cavey: Please don’t tell me what to do, you patronising southside twit! A former Blackrock College boy at that too!
@Tuot tuot: Then what took you so long to reply back to me, huh?
Get the Aran jumpers out. Call the leprechauns, what’s left of the dubliners and Marty Whelan. Pretend we are a nation of mad drinkers and we have the craic !
Obama,while he broke the mould by becoming president..was a bit like looking forward to and travelling to a fantastic restaurant..which everyone recommended..and being left a bit flat by the meal that failed to live up to expectations..
And why would you care? Do you live in America?
Also where did you copy and paste that line from?
Can’t wait for all the protests by the usual mob….NOT!!!
He was to easy with the terrorists Isis grew under his watch and he done very little to stop it.
And yet has one of the highest approval ratings of any outgoing president
But Dave, its Americans that are voting in those opinion polls.
@Dave O Keeffe: no he hasn’t. His up there alongside bush SR.
Barack Obama’s Presidential Job Approval Ratings 55% Polling dates
Most recent weekly average 55% Dec 26, 2016-Jan 1, 2017
Other presidents in fourth December after re-election
George W. Bush 34 Jan 2009
Bill Clinton 66 Jan 2001
George H.W. Bush 56 Jan 1993
Ronald Reagan 63 Dec 1988
Jimmy Carter n/a Jan 1981
Gerald Ford n/a Jan 1977
Lyndon Johnson 49 Jan 1969
Dwight Eisenhower n/a Jan 1961
Harry Truman n/a Jan 1953
GALLUP
https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/116479/barack-obama-presidential-job-approval.aspx&ved=0ahUKEwjEz9-SkrDRAhXFWCYKHZlQCZsQFgg6MAQ&usg=AFQjCNHGYUglGjcQDWpAnb74wt-U09BDNg&sig2=4oR_xmqaAGfDBBiu4LQKHw
@Dave O Keeffe: Not bad percentages for a black president…
@Dave O Keeffe: Stop the bullshit I posted a link by Gallop the other day which had Obama at 55% and Bill clinton at 66% . Even GW Bush senoir was 56% . So again its not that great
Will the anti-war rabble led by Posh Boy Barrett be out in force to resist his presence, Obama is the master of drone bombing after all.
Obama must be a conundrum for the hard left.
Rather Obama than Trump !
I’m continually amazed at the amount of pro-Trumpers in the journal.ie readership. Do you not realise that he is a complete gobdaw or do you not care? Either way I suspect you will be given ample occasion to reassess your view of him in the coming weeks.
Will Trump allow Obama back into the US after Obama travels out of the country?
And we should care why?
I hope he not looking for a free trip, all expenses paid!
No that’s the pope!
@Sean Bradley: haha, dream on that`s exactly what he`s looking for.
And the Queen
That picture tells you all you need to know about the Irish mentality. And look at the first lady’s face as if she’s chewing on a wasp which is understandable.
And?
As long as Trump doesn’t start claiming he has Irish blood…..
But he has Doonbeg could be wrong on the name. Enda and his gang has made sure he will not visit Ireland what he may do is bring a lot of the American business home
There’s room at Appollo house for them.
Ah yes, the ubiquitous comment on homelessness by someone who does nothing about it themselves… Just when I thought there were not gonna be any comments about it… Thanks Steve… With a ph!
Man never drank a duff in his life
@john
Err a, I too would like to express my fondness for that particular beverage.
His 8th cousin is looking forward to seeing him. Sure the whole of Ireland must be at least 8th cousins
Obama`s visit to Moneygall, pint in hand standing at pub counter was arranged for US tv and his re – election prospects, pure and simple. What`s he coming for now, since he will be joining the ranks of the highly paid ex head of state/government speech makers in a few weeks time, and doubtless whatever other freebies are on offer ?
I’ll take him to Zucchinis in Navan. My shout, he’ll be potless…
Wonder this time will he visit his real ancestral home and visit the graveyard where many of his ancestors are buried. He declined last time to lay a wreath instead preferred a pint in moneygall.
https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/shinrone-birthplace-and-resting-place-of-obamas-irish-ancestors-134924-May2011/&ved=0ahUKEwiKnZvNhbDRAhWJtxQKHceGDJgQFggaMAA&usg=AFQjCNHTatyPsAWU1WmSHu3B5XPaqre-tA&sig2=jtup5xRg3-FyezTn38qNqA
Maybe this time it will be burger in Obama plaza
@LITTLEONE: thats because he was only coming for the Irish American votes… he said in his book he DID NOT WANT TO KNOW HIS MOTHERS WHITE SIDE OF THE FAMILTY…I was shocked to see he went to Ireland…
I wonder which passport he will be using lol
When is he visiting Kenya?
@Mrs M: For the coffee or for the African Union?
Looking forward to Trump visit
Stay where you are.
Irish secret service? What’s that. Right wing extremists . Nah it’s called Irish banter . You tool
Open borders
I hope the Irish Secret Service are keeping a close eye on the fringe Alt-Right extremists here in Ireland in the run up to any visit.
*snort of laughter*
He thinks there’s actually an Irish Secret Service…
@Drew TheChinaman :): not often I agree with you . But I will laugh with you. Haha
His let the cat out of the bag …
@Drew TheChinaman :):
LOL!
@OpenBorders: Samp of the Journal
@Drew TheChinaman :): I don’t think it, I know it, it’s called Directorate of Military Intelligence, or G-2, the military intelligence branch of the Irish Armed Forces.
I’m quite alarmed at your ignorance, are you actually Irish? Only someone from outside Ireland wouldn’t be aware of our secret service.
@OpenBorders you’ve made a terrible fool of yourself on this article with people having to correct your errors on multiple occasions,maybe best to throw the towel in on this one,it’s kinda cringey to watch.
@Jimmy Hound: I’ve made a complete fool out of the rabble above alright! I notice they’ve all gone into hiding since my sucker punch, 1-0 to me! OpenBorders for the win!
@OpenBorders: What extremists, we are all here in the middle of the road blinded by any famous person that drives at us including big organisations like the IMF or the ECB?
Military intelligence does not equate to secret service along the lines of the u.s secret service….Hence the name military.very different remit…unless they’re bored shxtless.
@open broader and Jimmy Hound dog… I think that won’t count as a win due to the fact that you obviously got assistance from the ‘secret service’! Intelligence organisations are different, numpty!
That is his right but since he was backing the industrial military complexes and he use of drones.
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2016/08/18/the-drone-presidency/
http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2014/sep/25/ryan-lizza/lizza-says-obama-has-bombed-more-nations-bush/
“Ryan Lizza, Washington correspondent for the New Yorker summed it up in one tweet.
“Countries bombed: Obama 7, Bush 4.”
We asked Lizza for his list and he sent us this:
Bush: Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Somalia.
Obama: Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Libya and Syria.”
I think all the bull from the Democrates is to push that Woman Hillary for president at the next election.
The Irish American vote matters and what Matters to Obama is fracking, oil, monsanto…
Alois, nah…Hillary is now toxic, not coming back. Next Democrat candidate is Michelle Obama. Then we’ll see real emotion over substance. Heaven help America if that happens.
@Joseph Siddall: O Hillary will try her best to claw herself back, watch that space???
Anybody seen the cardboard figures of Michelle and Barak O’Bama as you enter Supermacs at Moneygall? I don’t like the Obama presidency, his Middle East foreign policy has been a disaster but his low point was definitely the cardboard cutout in Supermacs;-)
Mike, are you serious?…Bush senior intervened in Iraq and left Hussein in power and then his son invaded on the trumped up charge of weapons of mass destruction and included Afghanistan but catastrophically ruined the Iraqi army which should have been used to keep control. There was an outcry in America to bring the troops home from the chaos which Obama promised and largely accomplished. The full blame for Iraq/Syria lies with the Bush family, close friends of the Saudis. Obama brought Iran back on board also.
@winston smith: I’m not serious about the burger joint being his low point. Creating the power vacuum that led to ISIS overrunning much of Iraq was his lowest point. In fairness to him, he got a head start as he handed the initiative to ISIS by announcing he would withdraw troops if he was elected long before he was elected.
Trying to remind the world that not all Americans are ignorant, protectionist blowhards. Nice try but with four years of Trumpism ahead it’s going to take more than this.
Good man yeah
The pair of love the stout just look at the face!!
it’s called Directorate of Military Intelligence, or G-2, the military intelligence branch of the Irish Armed Forces. But in your own words Irish secret service..
Why not use the correct thing instead of Irish secret service . No point backtracking now.
You f up.
My replies to open borders seem to be randomly popping up everywhere . My apologies. That’s to open borders
@LITTLEONE: You’ve been burned because I proved you wrong, and in your anguish you are posting randomly all over the thread, take a break and have a cup of tea, and come back when you’ve (a) calmed down and (b) are ready to apologise to me. PMSL!
You need to get that incontinence looked at Petr
@OpenBorders: burned. Are you serious . You made a fool of yourself. The only one burnt was you. Irish secret service. Lol. Nice pulling your information from Wikipedia by the way. Had to scramble poor you..
I hope he gets a better welcome than the people going to ballaghadreen
@the truth – Epic comment! Next one gonna be… Good enough for him! I’ll maybe move to your village, double the idiot quota between the two of us!
@browne boots that comment makes absolutely no sense have another go but think this time .
@the tooth… No it does make sense. I was crudely hinting that your comment was rubbish and gave you an example of possible other inane comments. Then I suggested that you are the village idiot and I could come to your village and join you as an idiot there. Does that help explain it in simple enough terms ya pleb!
@browne boots no sorry as ridiculous second time around you stay in that village your playing a blinder christ the Internet can be full of ass holes in fairness.
@the tooth – the Internet! I’m glad it’s allowed you a medium to express your BS, gramps! The Internet ha ha, when did you stop using world wide web? Also, I often find punctuation helps in understanding a point, without it, just like your post, it’s nonsensical shyte!
@brown boots when your correcting grammar your in trouble I’m going with you deliberately made a bollix of shite for affect as nobody could be that stupid take your brown boots and kick the bollix out of yourself with them.
@the tooth – that’s just a childish rant! Ha ha! Anyway I’ll leave you to it, you’re probably busy searching for the difference between punctuation and grammar!
Nothing other than a Celebrity idiol president and you know what idiols make you do…..they make you idle.
There are 20 billion reasons why this clown should bugger off and leave us alone.
“The Geithner Mystery began on May 7, when Morgan Kelly wrote a piece in the Irish Times…….. on his latest outing, Kelly revealed that last November the Cowen government tried to shave e20bn off the bill we’re being forced to pay to cover the gambling debts of Irish and German banks.
Kelly: “The deal was torpedoed from an unexpected direction. At a conference call with the G7 finance ministers, the haircut was vetoed by US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.”
Really? Obama’s top economics guy forced Irish citizens to pay a e20bn debt that they never contracted? Did Kelly get this wrong? Why would Geithner intervene in a European problem? Surely the Geithner Mystery would be solved pretty damn quick? What happened next was surprising. There was silence.”
No doubt Enda will be using KY like bryllcream..
No doubt Bellenda will be using KY instead of the brilcrem when he arrives..
#prayforcharlie
Big Swinging Dicks…..
why is a white hating racist coming to a country with a majority of whites?
@Liviu Flore: absolutly… he divided America more than any other leader… he will only infest evil through Ireland..
@Des Buckley-Rothwell: he is pure evil!!!
Ah Supermacs… The single greatest food establishment ever! I am not even joking, I would absolutely DESTROY a Snackbox right now!
Have you ever been to Moneygall. They show the visit on a loop in the pub. Stars and Stripes everywhere. It’s utterly cringeworthy.
a little bit about what has been happening in America being the media controls most of what the Irish see and hear…for the last 30 or more years the leaders have been run by the rich and powerful… soros who at one time worked with Hitler… (watch his interviews on you tube).. he wants new world order and he is not going to back out … he has been funding the whole congress with control.. this is why they all hate Trump!!! Trump knew what was going on … he wants to stop it before it all goes down … God help us !!
Can’t believe people believe this stuff!! Everybody wants to be from Ireland.. Ireland is very energetic, has a lot of serious history!! Why didn’t the Nazi’s invade us? Very big Masonic Country.. Atlantis
@Grace mc kenna: I believe Ireland is a very religious country and very giving.. I believe 99% of the American people love the Irish and their accent.. the Irish are what help build America … census says the number one ethnic group in America is the Germans and the Irish are 2nd.. my father would tell me it is because the Germans and the Irish got along the best when the immigrants came over to America while the others stayed with their own communities.. then the Italians started to come out of their group to mix… America has great ties with the Irish and I think they should have open borders to the Irish…and ket the Irish be part of America…
have your say