Saturday, December 23, 2006

30 YEARS UNDERWATER !

As confirmed here and here , a sponsored swim in the Grand Canal at Inchicore in Dublin will be held this Christmas day at 12 Noon !
This event has been held on every Christmas Day since 1976 , and has , as usual , been organised by the Cabhair group (details here) , an organisation which seeks to assist the families and dependants of Irish Republican prisoners . The swim , which will be held in the Grand Canal opposite the Blackhorse Inn ('Kelly's on the Bridge') pub at , as stated , 12 Noon , has been known to attract upwards of 200 on-lookers and the organisers supply a turf fire , music , and some food and 'light refreshments' for all those present !
If you can swim , come along on the day and earn your place at the turf fire or at least , perhaps , watch others doing so and maybe even donate a few shillings for their efforts . CABHAIR is an organisation run by voluntary effort and would not accept donations or subscriptions from the State (nor has it ever looked for same) and , as such , would greatly appreciate any financial assistance you can offer .
Go ráibh maith agat , agus Nollaig Shona !






Friday, December 22, 2006

THE SEEDS OF A POLICE STATE .......
There is substantial evidence that a major crime was perpetrated within the Garda Siochana five years ago .
The evidence for this crime has certainly been available to senior Gardai ever since then , but no enquiry whatsoever has taken place , let alone any Garda being disciplined in connection with that crime .
By Vincent Browne and Derek Dunne .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , September 1983 .

James Lalor , who was in the Bridewell Garda Station at the same time as those arrested for the Sallins mail train robbery , gave evidence at Brian McNally's trial to the effect that he heard shouting and screaming in the Bridewell around midnight on the day in question : he said that he banged on the door of his cell in an attempt to get the disturbance stopped , and that a Garda whom he could not now identify told him to "...mind his own business.." .

At the time of the trial in October 1978 , James Lalor was serving a 12 month sentence in Mountjoy Prison , Dublin , having been convicted of pick-pocketing . Lalor further stated under cross examination that he had appeared in the District Court the morning after hearing the screams and shouts , and that he had received a 12 month sentence . He had not been contacted about the incident until almost two years after the event .

At the time of his giving evidence , Peter Harrington was serving five years penal servitude for armed robbery and had served a year and a half of his sentence ; he gave evidence at Brian McNally's trial to the effect that he had been re-arrested , along with his co-accused who included George and William Royale , outside the Bridewell , after their case had been thrown out of court . He admitted that he had been in the Bridewell thirty times . When questioned about what he heard in the Bridewell on the Wednesday morning , he said that he heard screams and shouts and the sound of something banging off a door , and that it lasted for about two hours . He also said that he had been in the Bridewell on a number of occasions since that night but had never heard anything like it since.......
(MORE LATER).



SPORTING NATIONALISM .
A look at the political origins of the GAA .
By 'Celt' .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1982 .

Almost 100 years old (ie 1884 - 1982) , the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)- the largest and most influential sporting body in Ireland - has from its inception to the present day been considerably influenced by political events in its ideals and policy . In recent years , concerted attempts to curb the intensely nationalist beliefs of many GAA members and some clubs have hinged on the demand that the GAA observe the gulf between 'sport' and 'politics' . This article argues that in the history of the GAA no such gulf ever existed .

The earliest driving force behind the GAA was provided by Michael Cusack , who founded the Association in Hayes' Hotel in Tipperary , during 1884 . A pioneer of Irish language revival and a founder member of the Gaelic League , Michael Cusack was inspired by the ideal of restoring pride in the national games of hurling and football , and - through them - instilling hope and determination among Irish manhood in their ability to control their country's destiny .

The cruel hardships of the Great Hunger , less than forty years earlier , bringing death and emigration to two-and-a-half million people , had shattered the national strength . Traditional games like hurling and football - prohibited under law by police and magistrates deeply suspicious of any organised activity which could act as a front for nationally-minded bodies - had been severely disrupted or extinguished altogether in many areas . Restoring these was the end to which Michael Cusack's efforts were directed.......
(MORE LATER).



THE PROVOS AT THE BALLOT BOX .......
By Michael Farrell .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1983 .

The important thing as far as this election - and the next - is concerned is that Sinn Fein's housing and welfare blitz is likely to win them support outside the republican ghetto and bite into the SDLP's traditional support , but the SDLP are hitting back as hard as they can - they are hammering away at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis resolutions passed after the Assembly elections and committing future candidates to "...unambivalent support for the armed struggle.." (' 1169...' Comment - there is no need now for such a declaration from PSF candidates as their objective - reform of the Six County 'state' - is not worth waging an armed campaign for.) .

The SDLP are pointing hard at the killing of a British soldier's wife in Derry who was shielding her husband , and at the breaking of a man's hands with concrete slabs , also in Derry , as examples of the effects of that armed struggle . The Catholic Church has weighed in with its strongest condemnation of Irish republicans since the Civil War : these attacks may hurt Sinn Fein since , to beat or even draw level with the SDLP , Sinn Fein will have to reach out well beyond those who support the IRA's military campaign and the Sinn Fein leaders admit they are unsure of the effect the Catholic bishop's onslaught may have .

But the attacks on Provo violence could be a two-edged weapon : if the Catholic Church and the SDLP escalate their attacks too much they may seem to be ignoring the violence from the loyalists and the 'security forces' which most North of Ireland Nationalists see as the root of the problem . ('1169...' Comment : as far ar Republicans are comcerned , 'the root of the problem' is the British presence , not how they 'behave' whilst here .) And , if they stress too strongly that 'a vote for Sinn Fein is a vote for violence' , they will have a lot of explaining to do if half the Nationalist population does vote for Sinn Fein.......
(MORE LATER).

PLEASE NOTE : The '1169...' crew will be taking a wee break from operations today , Friday 22 December 2006 . We will return in early January to continue on from where we left off . We trust our many readers will have a peaceful and happy Christmas , and that you will continue to support , in whatever manner you can , the struggle of Irish Republicans in our quest to bring a lasting peace to all on this isle .
Go raibh maith agat .
John , Sharon and 'Junior' .






Thursday, December 21, 2006



NOLLAIG SHONA DAR LEITHEOIRI !

Ar eagle an dearmaid ....

Ba bhrea an rud e siochain bhuan bunaithe ar an gceart a bheith againn in Eireann . Is i an bronntanas is fearr a d'fheadfaimis a thabhairt duinn fein agus dar gclann .

Coinniodh an ceart agus an tsiochain uainn le breis agus ocht gcead bliain , de bharr ionradh , forghabhail agus miriaradh na Sasanach . Socru ar bith a dheantar in ainm mhuintir na hEireann agus a ghlacann le riail Shasana agus a dhaingnionn an chriochdheighilt , ni thig leis an ceart na an tsiochain bhuann a bhunu .

Ni dheanfaidh se ach la na siochana buaine a chur ar an mhear fhada agus an bhunfhadb a thabhairt do ghluin eile . Tharla se seo cheana nuair a siniodh Conradh 1921 agus cuireadh siar ar mhuintir na hEireann e in ainm na siochana . Is mor ag Sinn Fein Poblachtach Eire a bheith saor agus daonlathach , an cuspoir ceanna a bhi i gceist ag Wolfe Tone agus ag na Poblachtaigh uile anuas go dti 1916 agus an la ata inniu ann .

Rinne a lan fear agus ban croga iobairti mora , thug a mbeatha fiu , ar son na cuise uaisle seo .

CEART . SAOIRSE. DAONLATHAS .


A PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS TO OUR READERS !

Least we forget ....

A just and permanent peace in Ireland is most desirable . It is the greatest gift we could give to ourselves and our children . We have been denied justice and peace for more than eight centuries , because of English invasion , occuption and misrule of our country .

Any arrangement which , in the name of the Irish people , accepts English rule and copperfastens the Border , will not bring justice and lasting peace . It will only postpone the day of permanent peace , handing over the basic problem to another generation .

This happened before when the Treaty of 1921 was signed and was forced on the Irish people in the name of peace . Republican Sinn Fein cherishes the objective of a free , democratic Ireland , as envisaged by Wolfe Tone and all Republicans down to 1916 and our own day . Many brave men and women sacrificed a lot , even their lives , for this noble Cause .

JUSTICE . FREEDOM . DEMOCRACY .

The '1169 And Counting... ' crew will be taking a break soon but will be back at their desks in '1169 Towers' in early January . Between this and then take care of yourselves and don't forget about your Irish friends , colleagues and comrades on this isle as we enter into the 838th year of British occupation .
Beannachtai na Nollag agus slan go foill anois !


30 YEARS UNDERWATER !

As confirmed here and here , a sponsored swim in the Grand Canal at Inchicore in Dublin will be held this Christmas day at 12 Noon !
This event has been held on every Christmas Day since 1976 , and has , as usual , been organised by the Cabhair group (details here) , an organisation which seeks to assist the families and dependants of Irish Republican prisoners . The swim , which will be held in the Grand Canal opposite the Blackhorse Inn ('Kelly's on the Bridge') pub at , as stated , 12 Noon , has been known to attract upwards of 200 on-lookers and the organisers supply a turf fire , music , and some food and 'light refreshments' for all those present !
If you can swim , come along on the day and earn your place at the turf fire or at least , perhaps , watch others doing so and maybe even donate a few shillings for their efforts . CABHAIR is an organisation run by voluntary effort and would not accept donations or subscriptions from the State (nor has it ever looked for same) and , as such , would greatly appreciate any financial assistance you can offer .
Go ráibh maith agat , agus Nollaig Shona !






Wednesday, December 20, 2006

THE SEEDS OF A POLICE STATE .......
There is substantial evidence that a major crime was perpetrated within the Garda Siochana five years ago .
The evidence for this crime has certainly been available to senior Gardai ever since then , but no enquiry whatsoever has taken place , let alone any Garda being disciplined in connection with that crime .
By Vincent Browne and Derek Dunne .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , September 1983 .

There was evidence of mistreatment given by five people who were being detained in the Bridewell Garda Station during that same time -
Mr. George Royale gave evidence in Brian McNally's trial to the effect that he heard shouts in the Bridewell around 1.00am on the morning in question : later on , he said he heard screams and shouts coming from the tunnel under the station , the tunnel leading to the District Court , and that he heard a question being roared - "...who was driving ? " He also gave evidence to the effect that Peter Royale , his brother , and Peter Harrington banged and kicked on the cell door after hearing screams , and that a member of the Gardai came down and told them to shut up or they would get the same .

He further said that when they complained later on , they were told that they were better off keeping their mouths shut , that it had nothing to do with them . George Royale admitted under cross examination that he had seven convictions against him , including ones for housebreaking , shop breaking , assault , and possession of a firearm . He denied fabricating his evidence and could not identify the person who allegedly had told him to ' keep his mouth shut ' . He further said that he had been in the Bridewell on a number of occasions before but had not heard anything like the shouts and screaming he had heard that night and , as a result of what he heard , he joined the Prisoners Rights Organisation and took part subsequently in a picket on the Bridewell .

He denied that either he or his brother were founder members of the Prisoners Rights Organisation but admitted that he knew some of its officers , and also stated under cross examination that he had spent three months in Mountjoy Jail on remand for something for which , in the end , a nolle prosequi was entered . There was another witness who also spoke of hearing "...shouting and screaming.."
(MORE LATER).



Veteran Irish Republican , LILY MOFFATT , interviewed.......
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1982 .
By John Doyle .

IRIS magazine - " What do you think of the Free State today ? "
Lily Moffatt - " Not much . " (Fergal , a 7-year old relative chimes in - " They're worse than the Brits! ") " It's awfully short of the Republic . And when I think of Liam , Rory , Richard and Joe shot in cold blood by the Staters... The people in the North are right to fight the British , they're our enemy . Now the Free Staters are more British that the British themselves . The people that died in my young days would have no regard for the Free State . Our culture , even our Irish dancing , is forgotten . "

IRIS magazine - " Do you agree with the present IRA's methods ? "
Lily Moffatt - " Yes , they are no different than in our time . In the North today they just have more up-to-date equipment . They are right to fight . I hate to see people killed but England never knew any language but the language of the gun . I wouldn't begrudge anything to get the Brits out . "

IRIS magazine - " Finally , Lily , what would you say to the girls and women who see this interview ? "
Lily Moffatt - " Do all you can for the good of your country . You could do nothing better . My one longing is not to die before the Brits get out . I'd die happy in the morning if we got rid of them . "

('1169...' Comment : Regrettably for Lily and thousands more like us , the Brits continue to maintain a political , military and jurisdictional unwanted presence on this isle , supported by those same Staters that Lily fought against . But the struggle for a re-united Ireland continues...)

[END of ' LILY MOFFATT INTERVIEWED']
(Next - 'Sporting Nationalism' : from 1982)


THE PROVOS AT THE BALLOT BOX .......
By Michael Farrell .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1983 .

All of this 'election campaign business' used to be the SDLP's bread and butter - even at times when feeling ran high against the SDLP over issues like internment they held votes because of their constituency work . But they seem to have grown complacent and they can't compete with the effort Sinn Fein is putting in now .

The SDLP had no office in West Belfast until a few weeks ago - John Hume had an MEP's office in Derry but it didn't deal with purely local issues and there was no party office in the city . Even those SDLP councillors who do work hard simply haven't the time and can't call on the back-up and support Sinn Fein have .

Some of the SDLP mutter darkly about not having access to unlimited funds from bank robberies to pay all those full-time workers : Senator Brid Rogers , the SDLP's general secretary , even suggests the British administration may be going out of its way to facilitate Sinn Fein constituency work as a way of enticing the Provisionals away from violence....... ('1169...' Comment -....now the Provisionals are paid a salary to 'entice them away from violence' : but there is really no need , as the Provos themselves realise that their objective of 'constitutional reform' is not worth organising an armed campaign for.)
(MORE LATER).

PLEASE NOTE : The '1169...' crew will be taking a wee break from operations soon - our last post this side of the new year will be on Friday 22 December next . We will return in early January to continue on from where we left off .
Go raibh maith agat .
John , Sharon and 'Junior' .






Tuesday, December 19, 2006

30 YEARS UNDERWATER !

As confirmed here and here , a sponsored swim in the Grand Canal at Inchicore in Dublin will be held this Christmas day at 12 Noon !
This event has been held on every Christmas Day since 1976 , and has , as usual , been organised by the Cabhair group (details here) , an organisation which seeks to assist the families and dependants of Irish Republican prisoners . The swim , which will be held in the Grand Canal opposite the Blackhorse Inn ('Kelly's on the Bridge') pub at , as stated , 12 Noon , has been known to attract upwards of 200 on-lookers and the organisers supply a turf fire , music , and some food and 'light refreshments' for all those present !
If you can swim , come along on the day and earn your place at the turf fire or at least , perhaps , watch others doing so and maybe even donate a few shillings for their efforts . CABHAIR is an organisation run by voluntary effort and would not accept donations or subscriptions from the State (nor has it ever looked for same) and , as such , would greatly appreciate any financial assistance you can offer .
Go ráibh maith agat , agus Nollaig Shona !






Monday, December 18, 2006

THE SEEDS OF A POLICE STATE .......
There is substantial evidence that a major crime was perpetrated within the Garda Siochana five years ago .
The evidence for this crime has certainly been available to senior Gardai ever since then , but no enquiry whatsoever has taken place , let alone any Garda being disciplined in connection with that crime .
By Vincent Browne and Derek Dunne .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , September 1983 .

John Fitzpatrick , Brian McNally , Nicky Kelly and Michael Plunkett were in the Bridewell Garda Station in Dublin from 11.30am on Wednesday , April 7 , 1976 , following Nicky Kelly's return from the trip to Ballymore Eustace and Bray : thus the question arises why it took a further 11 hours to have them charged . No adequate explanation for this was forthcoming during the trial .

But there was a further suspicious twist to the case - the rules of the Bridewell specify that persons held on the same charge should not be placed in the same cell together - asked by Seamus Sorohan , State Counsel , if he believed that what was done to Nicky Kelly and Brian McNally was in contravention of the rules of the Bridewell , Detective Inspector Ned Ryan said in evidence - " I believe it does , my Lords , contravene those regulations . " However , later in the trial , Ryan contradicted his earlier testimony on that point : he said - " I am not aware of it (ie the rule in question) . I think if that is there it is a new one . "

Independent Evidence of Screaming in the Bridewell .
But before we leave the very persuasive evidence that Brian McNally , Osgur Breathnach and Nicky Kelly were beaten up in the Bridewell , there is further independent evidence that there was something untold going on in the Bridewell during the period in question.......
(MORE LATER).



Veteran Irish Republican , LILY MOFFATT , interviewed.......
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1982 .
By John Doyle .

IRIS magazine - " You have been active in support of the republican women in Armagh jail , and you have been in jail yourself . Can you tell us about that ? "
Lily Moffatt - " I was first in prison for two months in 1923 , but nothing was as bad as Armagh . I was arrested by Free State soldiers in March 1923 in Rooskey , County Roscommon . The night before , the local garda barracks had been soaked in petrol by the IRA , but the Staters arrived before it could be burned down . I was bundled off to Longford barracks and then taken to the Castle barracks in Athlone . The bed sheets were as black as your boots . We got two sheets and two blankets each , but that wasn't much for March . We pushed our beds together , two girls from Sligo and me , and shared our heat and covers .

My brother Michael was being held too in the same barracks , and we could see him passing each morning . One day when I was looking out , the soldiers fired at us . We couldn't get Mass either . One day we complained to the prison chaplain , but it made no difference . They wouldn't give us Sunday Mass , only Mass on the odd weekday . We had to kneel on rough cement , but one of our guards had a cushion to save his knees , which we robbed on him ! "

IRIS magazine - " You didn't take the Free State pension , given to republicans involved in the Tan war by the newly-elected Fianna Fail Administration ? "
Lily Moffatt - " No , why should I ? We were all Volunteers . " ('1169....' Comment - ...follow that link and judge for yourself the calibre of 'Volunteers' in the Provisional organisation now .)
(MORE LATER).



THE PROVOS AT THE BALLOT BOX .......
By Michael Farrell .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1983 .

SOUTH DOWN -
Patrick Forde (Alliance Party) : Patrick Fitzsimmons (SF) : Cecil Harvey (DUP) : Eddie McGrady (SDLP) : Margaret Magee (WP) : Enoch Powell (OUP) .

This has always been a fairly closely-balanced seat , religious wise , but the unionists have always held it up to this . It has lost the nationalist Newry area and the unionist Banbridge area to neighbouring seats , probably leaving a small unionist majority .

The split unionist vote gives the SDLP's Eddie McGrady a fair chance of winning , but only if he holds the lead the SDLP had over Sinn Fein in the Assembly election . It is one of Sinn Fein's weakest areas , however , so it looks as if Enoch Powell will have to go back to Birmingham .

Assembly Election 1982 : (First Preferences) SDLP 20,610 , three seats ; OUP 18,371 , two seats ; DUP 11,349 , two seats ; Alliance Party 3,646 ; Sinn Fein 3,393 ; Workers Party 1,676 .
(MORE LATER).

PLEASE NOTE : The '1169...' crew will be taking a wee break from operations soon - our last post this side of the new year will be on Friday 22 December next . We will return in early January to continue on from where we left off .
Go raibh maith agat .
John , Sharon and 'Junior' .