Thursday, March 02, 2006

Dublin Riots , Saturday , February 25 , 2006 .
RIOT SQUAD RESPONSIBLE FOR STARTING THE TROUBLE-
I was there from 11 AM untill 2.15 PM : this is what actually happened , as witnessed by myself and that other writer , amongst others , who was obviously in the same vicinity of O' Connell Street/Parnell Street as myself . Sharon.
NOTE - readers may be asking why the 'spark' that set the whole incident off was not shown on television news reports and/or in the pictures and reports that were published in the newspapers : on Monday , 27 February last , in 'The Evening Herald' newspaper , the following was published (on page 5) , by that organs 'Crime Editor' -
" A number of photographers , and myself , were taking pictures of the confrontation and we were surrounded by gardai who demanded that we stop and forcibly stood in front of us to prevent snaps . "
It appears that State agents were , even then , preparing an alibi for themselves and their paymasters . (Thanks , again , to the 'IRBB' for the 'heads-up' on that newspaper article).
Belfast solicitor Pádraigín Drinan was accompanying an official observer from Washington DC when riots broke out - Ms Drinan said that, contrary to many media reports, much of the fighting had erupted after local Dubliners were forced off O’Connell Street and down adjoining side streets by gardaí.
“ I saw hundreds of middle-aged local people jostle aggressively with Garda officers after being forced down side streets. They weren’t the type you would associate with a riot, ” she said. (Sourced from 'Daily Ireland' newspaper , February 28 , 2006. )


THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND THE IRISH STRUGGLE .......
This article is based on a lecture delivered by Sean O Bradaigh in Dublin on January 21 , 1989 , marking the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the First (All-Ireland) Dail Eireann in the Mansion House on January 21 , 1919 , and the links between Irish and French Republicans - 'Partners in Revolution' 200 years ago .
Published in 1989 by Sean Lynch , Cleenrath , Aughnacliffe , County Longford , on behalf of the County Longford Branch of the National Graves Association .
By Sean O Bradaigh .
Liberte ! Egalite ! Fraternite ! Ou La Mort ! ( (Freedom ! Equality ! Brotherhood ! or Death!).
Unite Indivisibilite De La Republique !

" That Ireland was not able of herself to throw off the yoke , I knew . I therefore sought for aid wherever it was to be found . " - Theobald Wolfe Tone .

Liberty , Equality , Fraternity are noble ideas which still inspire us and for which we still struggle , both North and South of the British-created border .

Charles , Marquis Cornwallis (1738 - 1805) , former Viceroy of India , became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in June 1798 . On hearing of the French landing he took personal command of the English forces in the field . He had reached Athlone when he heard of the capture of Castlebar and sent an urgent message to England for "... as large a reinforcement as possible .. " despite the fact that he already had 100,000 troops in Ireland .......
(MORE LATER).


THE UNBROKEN LINKS IN THE IRISH REPUBLICAN CHAIN .......
ByMartin Calligan.
(No year of publication.)

After 5 months 'on the run' I was caught and put away for six months for refusing to answer questions . On my release I was arrested at the prison gate and sent to the Internment Camp : here , I was present when the Military Police fired on us without warning or provocation .

Barney Casey was killed and others wounded in this affray - we burned a section of the camp for which I got 2 years , and I was sent to Arour Hill Prison . While there I met George Plant and Joe O' Connor .

De Valera had an other Act passed - he asked Leinster House to give the Military Court power to accept verbal statements even if the people who were supposed to have made them were dead or insane ! Also - it should be noted that most of those 'statements' were made under torture .......
(MORE LATER).


BUTCHERS DOZEN .......
A poem by Thomas Kinsella , written after Bloody Sunday .
From 'IRIS' magazine , March 1983 .

Tongue of serpent , gut of hog ,
spiced with spleen of underdog -
stir in , with oaths of loyality , sectarian supremacy ,
and heat , to make a proper botch ,
in a bouillion of bitter scotch .

Last - the choice ingredient - you !
now , to crown your Irish stew ,
boil it over , make a mess : a most imperial success !

He capered weakly , racked with pain ,
his dead hair plastered in the rain ;
the group was silent once again -
it seemed the moment to explain
that sympathetic politicians say our violent traditions ,
backward looks and bitterness , keep us in this dire distress .
(MORE LATER).