that voiced similar objections. Fearing Sullivan's influence over the Land League in Ireland, and in defense of the New Departure, Kenny returned to Ireland in 1885 to play an active role in the Irish National Land League, giving up a lucrative business and relocating his family to Kilcock, County Kildare. Discouraged by the course of events in Ireland, Kenny moved his family back to New York in 1890. In 1898 Clarke also returned to New York, on his release from prison, and worked at the Gaelic American newspaper with editor John Devoy. Kenny travelled frequently between Ireland and New York, serving as a liaison between the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland (or, as it was referred to in New York, the "Home Office") and the Clan-na-Gael in America. In 1907, Thomas Clarke returned to Dublin to rally support for a rebellion. Return to New York 1890 In 1914 Kenny, living in New York, was again the president of the Clan-na-Gael. He was also the vice-president of the I.R.B. Veterans, a founding member of the Irish Volunteers Committee (the provisional committee formed to arm the Irish Volunteers Irish National Volunteers in Ireland), a founder of the Land League (and in 1916 of the Friends of Irish Freedom), and an active supporter of Padraic Pearse's St. Enda's School and the women's organisation the Cumann na mBan. He also served as the Business Manager of the Gaelic American newspaper, and later as a founder of the Friends of Irish Freedom Mission to Germany to request guns and military assistance At the declaration of war between England and Germany on 14 August 1914, Sir Roger Casement and John Devoy arranged a meeting in New York between the Western Hemisphere's top-ranking German diplomat, Count von Bernstorff, http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/bernstorff.htm and a delegation of Clan-na-Gael men. The Clan delegates proposed a mutually beneficial plan: if Germany would sell guns to the Irish rebels and provide military leaders, the rebels would stage a revolt against England, diverting troops and attention from the war with Germany. Von Bernstorff listened with evident sympathy and promised to relay the proposal to Berlin. Devoy decided to communicate directly with Berlin himself . At the time, England held control of the seas and furthermore, within days of the start of the war, had cut the transatlantic cable. It would be necessary to send an envoy to deliver the message personally. John Kenny, a trusted