Fermanagh priest recalls support of President Carter - The Fermanagh Herald

Father Sean McManus met with President Jimmy Carter at the White House on April 11, 1980.

Published: 9:54 AM on October 17, 2024

As tributes flow in from around the globe for former US President Jimmy Carter, who recently marked his 100th birthday, a priest from Fermanagh has reminisced about how the Nobel Peace Prize laureate genuinely aimed to support Northern Ireland. Fr. Sean McManus, originally from Kinawley and sibling of former MP Frank McManus, is the founder and president of the influential political advocacy group, the Irish National Caucus, based in Washington. In response to an article by journalist Niall O'Dowd, who also established the Irish Central website, Fr. McManus expressed his appreciation for Carter, saying, “God bless former President Jimmy Carter. He wanted to make a positive impact regarding Northern Ireland. It was already challenging for Carter to contend with the formidable Margaret Thatcher, as this article highlights. Even more troubling, the unfortunate Garrett Fitzgerald actively resisted Carter’s efforts to lend assistance.” Fr. McManus remarked that the Irish Central article, which discusses President Carter's friction with Prime Minister Thatcher over a US ban on arms exports to the RUC, is significant to read. O'Dowd explains how Fr. McManus's lobbying, along with that of the Irish National Caucus, initially led to the 1979 ban. This decision from the US government was reportedly perceived by Prime Minister Thatcher as straining the 'special relationship' between their countries. The British government had placed large orders for weapons, including Magnum handguns and semi-automatic rifles, from a Connecticut firm. Despite this, the US government chose not to issue export licenses for the arms destined for the RUC. Thatcher even traveled to Washington to advocate for a reversal of this decision, reportedly “educating the US president on the situation.” She also provided four documents outlining UK policy to the US. According to the article, President Carter, in response to Thatcher's entreaty, asked US Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill to lift the ban. However, O'Neill, whose parents were from Inishowen in County Donegal, declined.

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Published: 9:54 AM on October 17, 2024