JULY-DECEMBER 1921 : Revenge Attacks on Republicans During The 'Truce' .......
..........the Brits could not always find the patience to set-up covert assassinations in their desire to take revenge on Irish Republicans during the 'Truce' ; gun-battles broke out on occasion between the IRA and British forces .......
A number of IRA Volunteers died in those shoot-outs ; Luke Killian , from Crith in County Roscommon , in August 1921 / Belfast-man Fred Fox , shot dead in a gun-battle , that same August / Christy McEvoy , a Dublin man , died in early November 1921 / Declan Hurton , from Ardmore in Waterford , shot dead by the Brits on 9th November 1921 and Belfast man David Morrison , who died in a shoot-out on 27th December 1921 .
Other IRA Volunteers died in that same year (1921) but not as a direct result of British military activity ; the following is a list of IRA activists that we know of that died on drills , in training camps or elsewhere -
- County Tipperary man Mossie (Maurice) Magarth (July) ; Patrick Tubridy , a Limerick man , died 21st August ; Dublin men Michael O'Brien and James Henry Doyle (8th September and 11th November respectively) and Newry men Hugh O'Hare (22nd October) and Harry McKigney , 7th November 1921 .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
THE CASTLE OF MACROOM .......
".......we had been hours in hiding , waiting to ambush the Brits who were , we felt, not now going to show . We wanted to take the fight to them now , as they were not apparently coming to us ......."
" In vain we asked for permission to rush the British soldiers at the Castle gate and , at least, shoot up the Castle as some small compensation for our crippled condition . As I picked up my Lewis-Gun I envied Sean Rua an Ghaorthaigh and his old musket . His single successful shot at the candle had also wrecked the peace of mind of his enemies and cheered him on his way up Sleibhin .
He had made his presence felt , while we had come and were now retiring unknown to our enemies . A plea for mercy had saved the Loyalist's house from the flames , and stopped our operation .
Well , "...it blesseth him that gives , and him that takes ....." . "
[END of - ' THE CASTLE OF MACROOM .......'].
(Tomorrow - 'BURNINGS....').
' COLONEL OLIVER NORTH WOULD'NT DO ANYTHING THAT REAGAN DID'NT APPROVE ' .......
'The chain of events that has become known as IRANGATE is circling ever tighter around President Reagan . Sean Cronin draws together some of the links in the bizarre story'
First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper , Tuesday , February 10th , 1987 , page 14 .
Re-produced here in 12 parts.
11 of 12.
On May 15th , 1986 , American President Ronald Reagan approved the 'McFarlane mission ' , and the delegation flew to Europe and Israel on May 23rd-25th . With Robert McFarlane were Colonel Oliver North and another member of the NSC Staff , Howard Teischer . A CIA Officer , George Cave , served as interpreter ; the discussions ran from May 25th to 28th - nothing was accomplished and the 'McFarlane mission' returned home empty-handed .
There is little hard information on the diversion of funds to the Contras ; the first mention in the U S Senate Intelligence Committee report has of it is in January 1986 during discussions between Colonel Oliver North and the Israeli Prime Minister's adviser , Amiram Nir . Colonel North mentioned support for the Contras and Mr. Nir said funds from the arms sales to Iran could be used for that purpose .
Oliver North turned down Amiram Nir's suggestion that " ...U S funds to Israel or Israel's own funds could be used ..." to support the Contras .......
(MORE LATER).
(Sharon's on her way to getcha , 'SAER' - told ya we can organise housecalls !! The rest of ya can just check out the 'GUESTBOOK' to see what I'm on about.....and , while you're there - sign the bleedin' thing .....)
