Details of the McCartney Sisters' TripThe Telegraph publishes
their travel diaries.
Choice bits:
Donna: We flew from Dublin this morning. Now we're waiting on the tarmac for the BA flight at Heathrow and the stewardess comes down and asks if we're the McCartney party. We say "yes". Gemma thinks we're going to get thrown off, but actually the captain has moved us to empty seats in the first class cabin.After arriving in the US:
Donna: Only now are we starting to grasp how big this issue is over here. Even our taxi driver told us he couldn't believe the IRA was murdering innocent Catholics. Part of the success of this campaign is its spontaneity. We haven't prepared speeches, we just tell people what happened. If it gets too orchestrated, we could lose momentum.
That evening, the group attends the American Ireland Fund gala dinner alongside Bertie Ahern, the Irish prime minister. Gerry Adams is also present. Senator McCain delivers the main speech, condemning the IRA and Sinn Fein and lauding the bravery of the six women.
Donna: It is great to hear the applause just watched Adams during the Senator's speech. He stared ahead and looked really grim. I didn't expect him to clap when there was criticism of Sinn Fein, but he didn't even put his hands together when McCain praised our courage. That speaks volumes. I realise now how badly this is going for Adams.Their trip to the White House:
Bridgeen: We are ushered in with 12 people from different groups. There are pieces of paper on the floor with our names so we know where to stand. I move mine because I want to be in the middle of the other girls. Then the President comes into the room. He spends about five minutes with our group. He asks who is the widow and asks me about the boys and how I am. He clearly knows what happened to Robert. He is gracious and friendly, but I am too nervous to think straight. It is all a bit of a blur.
Paula tells him Robert was a quiet, gentle, good man and Catherine tells him that we hope he can use his influence to help bring the murderers to justice and that this is a test of the sincerity of Sinn Fein in the peace process. He says that he is 100 per cent behind us and that justice would be done. And he thanks us for our courage.Great article, have your hankies ready!
