Dozens gathered at the Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville, TN for the Irish Unity People’s Assembly for the Diaspora on Wednesday, May 28th, 2025. The event was the fifth People’s Assembly event hosted in the United States by Friends of Sinn Féin and the first in Tennessee.
Pat Cullen MP for Fermanagh & South Tyrone was the special guest and speaker for the event and she was joined by Ciarán Quinn, Sinn Féin’s Representative to the United States.
Before the event, a tour of some of the highlights of Nashville’s civil rights activism was the first order of business. A visit to Fisk University for a tour of Jubilee Hall, Cravath Hall, and the Fisk Memorial Chapel was as inspirational as it was informative. The next stop was The Civil Rights Room at the Nashville Public Library where we watched videos, read accounts, and learned not only about Martin Luther King’s visits and speeches, but also about the importance of activists like AZ Kelley, Z. Alexander Looby, Diane Nash, and many other courageous leaders. The mix of art, activism, history, and engagement in present day struggles provided vital context for why Nashville was such an important place to host an Irish Unity People’s Assembly.
Then Pat was welcomed to Nashville City Hall by Councilperson Emily Benedict who provided a tour of the council chambers and introduced Pat to councilmembers from all over the city. It was a great opportunity to share experiences and stories about the work of serving constituents and working in electoral politics.
The event welcomed seasoned activists, members of the AOH and LAOH, community members, and everyone who wanted to learn more about this special moment in history.
Pat provided an update on the current political situation in Ireland and invited the input, questions, and ideas from Irish America and the diaspora. She told the attendees, “We are at the point at which the founding fathers of America found themselves after the British agreed to withdraw. The challenge to define a new nation.
“Think about that. A break from the past of division and the building of a shared future.
“Tonight’s meeting is about explaining the opportunities but also to listen.
“We want to hear from you about your hopes for a new and united Ireland.
“We also want to discuss the challenges that we will face along the way and the role you can play in securing unity referendums.
“You have a role to play.”
Following the keynote address, Pat was interviewed by Councilwoman Brenda Gadd, a founding board member of Emerge Tennessee, an NGO that provides mentorship and training to increase the number of women running for office. They discussed Pat’s role as a labor leader, a nurse, and an activist as well as her decision to stand for election. Pat’s experience leading more than 240,000 nurses on strike for the first time in more than 100 years was a vital part of her life’s story, and the stories of that experience amazed the audience.
Following the interview, attendees got into small groups for further conversations about the goal of Irish Unity, the role of politicians, and the essential work to be done by activists. Clear calls to action and plans for accountability and next steps were the focus of the night’s conversation.
It was an excellent event that broke new ground in Tennessee and brought together a wide array of supporters from all over the region. The work of creating a new and united Ireland requires everyone working together and events like this provide a clear channel for activists to get involved and to play a role.
Photos all by Dan Heller.
