The Irish-American 'GROWL' ; the 'AARIR'- 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic ' .
Ireland 1920 ; Black and Tans on the rampage , the Irish Republican Lord Mayor of Cork , Thomas MacCurtain shot dead by RIC men who were out of uniform at the time (for that purpose) ; notices , thousands of them , were stapled-up throughout the country , warning that ' for every member of the Crown Forces shot , two Sinn Feiners would also be shot '.
The then President of the Irish Republic (all 32 Counties) , Eamon de Valera , was in America ; he had been there since June 1919 , campaigning for support to get the British out of Ireland .......
(MORE LATER).
THE SLIPPERY ROCK .
" It was half-past seven on the morning of 17 August 1920 . 'Mick the Soldier' and I were still in our beds , which were good ones - a mattress each and a few blankets on the floor of Henry Browne's barn at Cools , Kilnamartyra . The weather was very fine , so fine that we had often slept in the open . One day , having slept the night before under the " blue vault of heaven " , someone complained of a headache . "Ah," said Joe Roche , "that was the crack you gave your head on the rafter this morning ..."
Someone tramped up the stairs outside our 'bedroom' door , and knocked . We admitted Seainin Donncha Eoin , an IRA Volunteer from 'B' Company , Ballyvourney . We liked Seainin , and gave him cordial greeting . Then we asked him why he came so early . " I'll tell ye then ," said Seainin . " A cycle patrol passes from the British military post at Ballyvourney through the village of Ballymakeera to meet a convoy of lorries from Macroom . The idea is to scout the road for the lorries . Then take up positions somewhere beyond Poul na Bro and wait until the lorries return from Ballyvourney ."
Seainin continued - " The enemy number ten men and an Officer with a revolver . They travel ten or twelve yards apart in single file . Our lads are going to take up positions in the village , extended, like the British soldiers , along the street , and rush out on them with sticks . We want a couple of revolvers to hold up the Officer , and that's what has brought me - to get a loan of two revolvers . "
I did not think much of the project ......."
(MORE LATER).
A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......
Fianna Fail , Brian Lenihan , Charles Haughey , George Schultz and Saint Patrick ;
....a story from 'Magill Magazine' , 12th November 1987 , pages 19 and 20 . A 'snap-shot' of Ireland in the 1980's , in 12 parts ...
[12 of 12].
Even before the present flap , no real momentum was discernible under the Agreement (ie the Hillsborough Treaty) since Fianna Fail took Office . When SDLP party leaders travelled to Dublin shortly before the February election to make their peace with Fianna Fail , they were told that the approach would be different . Fianna Fail had the economy to handle as an absolute priority ; they would not pursue the day-to-day details of the administration of justice with the same vigour as Fine Gael's Peter Barry and Garret Fitzgerald had . They would concentrate on policing and fair employment .
After December 1st , the task will be to keep things going in a cordial atmosphere , to slow things down to a pace where tempers are likely to remain cool . Having pinned his colours to so many different masts , Brian Lenihan has few entrenched positions to defend . ('1169 ..' comment - As with all Leinster House career politicians , there is no 'bottom line' ; they are entirely flexible , regardless of the issue at hand , eyes firmly fixed on the pension ...)
Tom King (Brit politician in the Six Counties) and the 'Northern Ireland'(sic) Office , who have a distinct disdain for political passion have already found Brian Lenihan "very professional - a thorough-going gent . Very good , for example , at remembering to shake hands and say goodbye to people who service the conference . "
In the months to come , Brian Lenihan's unflappable bonhomie may be the main motor of Anglo-Irish co-operation . Matters of more substance await the tortuous process of resolution . Once again , Brian Lenihan has the job of sweeping up .
[END of - ' A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......'].
(Tomorrow - Ex-'terrorist' makes 'good'...?).
Friday, April 02, 2004
PAT AND HARRY LOUGHNANE , Galway - tortured to death by the Black and Tans , 1920.......
.......In December 1920 , the remains of Pat and Harry Loughnane were found ; they had been sadistically battered , with wrists and legs broken , body-parts sawn off and grenades used on the remains .......
The remains of both men showed that the Black and Tans had attempted to 'write' on the men , using knives or bayonets - sets of initials were carved into both bodies .
There was a heavy presence of Black and Tans at the funerals of Pat and Harry Loughnane , but the IRA called their bluff just as the burial ceremony was coming to an end - six armed IRA Volunteers stood over the grave and a three-volley shot was given .
The kidnap , torture , abuse and manner of death suffered by Pat and Harry Loughnane is the most horrific incident that this author has come across in researching articles for this weblog . Even in times of war , the fate deliberately inflicted on the brothers was inhuman . At the risk of sounding like we are trying to score a cheap political point , we remind our readers that the military kin of the Black and Tans are still in this country .
And they receive their instructions from the same political institution which gave the Tans their orders . Think of that , next time you hear talk of "dissident Republicans" in Ireland , and ask yourself how could you be but "dissident" to the Brits ? And ask the Brits when have true Irish Republicans ever been but "dissident" .......?
[END of -' PAT AND HARRY LOUGHNANE , Galway - tortured to death by the Black and Tans , 1920.......'].
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......
".......While we were unloading the tins of paint from the captured British Army trucks , we were being watched by an unknown 'warrior of the street' , who had his own plans for the paint ......."
" Now the 'street warrior' was making hay while the moon shone . Hardly had the IRA Volunteers turned their backs when this gentleman " arose and twitched his mantle blue " and proceeded to transfer the paint "to fresh woods and pastures new ." Working enthusiastically , he did not notice the passage of time or any undue activity in his neighbourhood ; not until he saw , by the light of a full moon , the glint of steel here and there around him . Then he took alarm ....
He made the mistake of trying to slip away through a meadow studded with hay-stacks . Some one of the British soldiers in the search party caught a glimpse of him and shouted a warning to the other soldiers . Surrounding the meadow they started a diligent search of it . At length they located him under a hay-stack and dragged him out ...
"Yerra lads ," he said , " 'tis I am glad to see ye . I was sure 'twas t'other fellas were there ! " "What other fellows ?" , asked one of the Brits . " Sure the crowd that had at the soldiers . I was with the soldiers all the evening helping them to release the lorries . When t'other lads attacked I ran , but they followed me and fired on me , so I hid under this hay-stack . I came out when I thought them gone , and when ye came after me I hid again thinkin' they had come back for me . "
Strangely enough , the British soldiers accepted the tale as a plausible story of his movements and released him !
[END of - 'TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......'].
A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......
Fianna Fail , Brian Lenihan , Charles Haughey , George Schultz and Saint Patrick ;
....a story from 'Magill Magazine' , 12th November 1987 , pages 19 and 20 . A 'snap-shot' of Ireland in the 1980's , in 12 parts ...
(11 of 12).
Charles Haughey privately "expressed his concern" to Brian Lenihan at these remarks . Shortly afterwards , again after meetings with Irish-American politicians in the U S , Lenihan amended his position . Without mentioning the Extradition Act by name , he said that the British government would be doing no more than giving effect to the explicit commitment in Article 8 if it introduced substantial measures to improve confidence in the administration of justice . Yet another about-turn had been executed ...
Ironically , it may not be Brian Lenihan's very lack of passion about the North of Ireland ie his failure to take up consistent , let alone rigid, positions , which could be most useful in rescuing the Anglo-Irish process . Not burdened by the driving mechanism of Fine Gael's Peter Barry and Garret Fitzgerald , ('1169...' comment - ...even if it was a pro-Brit 'driving mechanism' !) Brian Lenihan may find it easier to sail through the period after December 1st when evasion , bland optimism and the 'putting on of a good face' will be the order of the day ...
(MORE LATER).
.......In December 1920 , the remains of Pat and Harry Loughnane were found ; they had been sadistically battered , with wrists and legs broken , body-parts sawn off and grenades used on the remains .......
The remains of both men showed that the Black and Tans had attempted to 'write' on the men , using knives or bayonets - sets of initials were carved into both bodies .
There was a heavy presence of Black and Tans at the funerals of Pat and Harry Loughnane , but the IRA called their bluff just as the burial ceremony was coming to an end - six armed IRA Volunteers stood over the grave and a three-volley shot was given .
The kidnap , torture , abuse and manner of death suffered by Pat and Harry Loughnane is the most horrific incident that this author has come across in researching articles for this weblog . Even in times of war , the fate deliberately inflicted on the brothers was inhuman . At the risk of sounding like we are trying to score a cheap political point , we remind our readers that the military kin of the Black and Tans are still in this country .
And they receive their instructions from the same political institution which gave the Tans their orders . Think of that , next time you hear talk of "dissident Republicans" in Ireland , and ask yourself how could you be but "dissident" to the Brits ? And ask the Brits when have true Irish Republicans ever been but "dissident" .......?
[END of -' PAT AND HARRY LOUGHNANE , Galway - tortured to death by the Black and Tans , 1920.......'].
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......
".......While we were unloading the tins of paint from the captured British Army trucks , we were being watched by an unknown 'warrior of the street' , who had his own plans for the paint ......."
" Now the 'street warrior' was making hay while the moon shone . Hardly had the IRA Volunteers turned their backs when this gentleman " arose and twitched his mantle blue " and proceeded to transfer the paint "to fresh woods and pastures new ." Working enthusiastically , he did not notice the passage of time or any undue activity in his neighbourhood ; not until he saw , by the light of a full moon , the glint of steel here and there around him . Then he took alarm ....
He made the mistake of trying to slip away through a meadow studded with hay-stacks . Some one of the British soldiers in the search party caught a glimpse of him and shouted a warning to the other soldiers . Surrounding the meadow they started a diligent search of it . At length they located him under a hay-stack and dragged him out ...
"Yerra lads ," he said , " 'tis I am glad to see ye . I was sure 'twas t'other fellas were there ! " "What other fellows ?" , asked one of the Brits . " Sure the crowd that had at the soldiers . I was with the soldiers all the evening helping them to release the lorries . When t'other lads attacked I ran , but they followed me and fired on me , so I hid under this hay-stack . I came out when I thought them gone , and when ye came after me I hid again thinkin' they had come back for me . "
Strangely enough , the British soldiers accepted the tale as a plausible story of his movements and released him !
[END of - 'TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......'].
A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......
Fianna Fail , Brian Lenihan , Charles Haughey , George Schultz and Saint Patrick ;
....a story from 'Magill Magazine' , 12th November 1987 , pages 19 and 20 . A 'snap-shot' of Ireland in the 1980's , in 12 parts ...
(11 of 12).
Charles Haughey privately "expressed his concern" to Brian Lenihan at these remarks . Shortly afterwards , again after meetings with Irish-American politicians in the U S , Lenihan amended his position . Without mentioning the Extradition Act by name , he said that the British government would be doing no more than giving effect to the explicit commitment in Article 8 if it introduced substantial measures to improve confidence in the administration of justice . Yet another about-turn had been executed ...
Ironically , it may not be Brian Lenihan's very lack of passion about the North of Ireland ie his failure to take up consistent , let alone rigid, positions , which could be most useful in rescuing the Anglo-Irish process . Not burdened by the driving mechanism of Fine Gael's Peter Barry and Garret Fitzgerald , ('1169...' comment - ...even if it was a pro-Brit 'driving mechanism' !) Brian Lenihan may find it easier to sail through the period after December 1st when evasion , bland optimism and the 'putting on of a good face' will be the order of the day ...
(MORE LATER).
Thursday, April 01, 2004
PAT AND HARRY LOUGHNANE , Galway - tortured to death by the Black and Tans , 1920.......
........ The Loughnane Brothers were beaten-up by the Tans for about four hours , then each was shot twice . Their bodies were set on fire , then thrown in a hole in the woods , then dug up and thrown into a pond .......
That happened on Sunday , 28th November 1920 ; the following day (Monday 29th November) the Brits called to the Loughnane home and told the boys' mother that they were looking for her two sons - that they had escaped from custody and were " on the run " . The Brits knew well enough where the two brothers were but , as well as deliberately giving false hope to the family , they were in the process of concocting an alibi for themselves . However , at this stage , the family and friends did not know any better and search-parties were organised to look for the brothers .
In the middle of December that year (1920) , the remains of Pat and Harry Loughnane were found . Before the brothers were given a proper funeral , a local doctor was asked to examine the remains - his report showed that both men had , at first , been sadistically battered ; the eldest of the brothers , Pat , had both wrists broken and both legs broken , while Harry had had two fingers removed by a saw , while still alive , and his right arm was only attached to the remains of the charred body by sinews.
The doctor stated that the damage to the head , neck and upper-chest area of both men was caused , in his opinion , by "hand grenades (which) were put in their mouths and that these then exploded ..."
(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.
TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......
".......After we took control of both British Army trucks , we escorted the thirteen British soldiers to an old house , sat them down and gave them a couple of mugs of tea . We then pointed them in the direction of Macroom and told them to go . We heard they returned later , with support , but all they found was two burnt-out trucks ......."
" While some of our number escorted the Brits to the old house , the rest of us examined the lorries and their loads . We found nothing of any military value among the stores carried . The large quantity of paint in tins appeared to be the most valuable material . Perhaps it might come in useful in the construction of arms-dumps , mines and other things . In any case , we felt it would be wanton destruction to give it to the flames . Accordingly , we set to work and , taking it to nearby dykes and trenches away from the roadside , dumped it into them with little ceremony .
But if we had been somewhat careless about the disposal of the paint there was , in the background , an unknown warrior who deprecated our rough and ready methods , and took steps to correct them . He belonged to that type which , in any emergency , hates to see wilful waste - a firm believer in suitable proverbs , he always did his best to realise them ; the "ill-wind that blew somebody good" had often blown this character's way , for the simple reason that he had caused it to veer in his direction ......"
(MORE LATER).
A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......
Fianna Fail , Brian Lenihan , Charles Haughey , George Schultz and Saint Patrick ;
....a story from 'Magill Magazine' , 12th November 1987 , pages 19 and 20 . A 'snap-shot' of Ireland in the 1980's , in 12 parts ...
(10 of 12).
The absence of tangible progress on the administration of justice in the North of Ireland , together with the in-fact-unrelated but highly emotive case of the Birmingham Six , makes it virtually impossible for Fianna Fail to bring the Extradition Act into effect .
But even on this , the one issue to do with Anglo-Irish relations on which Fianna Fail took a clear and detailed stand in opposition , Brian Lenihan has had difficulty in adjusting to the convolutions of his leader's policy . He entered heartily into the role of easy-going friendship with the British , to the extent of effectively blaming the IRA for the deaths at Loughgall in May (1987), at a time when middle-of-the-road nationalists like Austin Currie (SDLP) were calling for an inquiry .
In an RTE interview on September 20 (1987), Brian Lenihan strongly implied that the (Free State) government would bring the Extradition Act into force , by saying that there was no connection between the Act and the reform of the administration of justice in the Six Counties , even though the two are explicitly linked in Article 8 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement (Hillsborough Treaty).
(MORE LATER).
........ The Loughnane Brothers were beaten-up by the Tans for about four hours , then each was shot twice . Their bodies were set on fire , then thrown in a hole in the woods , then dug up and thrown into a pond .......
That happened on Sunday , 28th November 1920 ; the following day (Monday 29th November) the Brits called to the Loughnane home and told the boys' mother that they were looking for her two sons - that they had escaped from custody and were " on the run " . The Brits knew well enough where the two brothers were but , as well as deliberately giving false hope to the family , they were in the process of concocting an alibi for themselves . However , at this stage , the family and friends did not know any better and search-parties were organised to look for the brothers .
In the middle of December that year (1920) , the remains of Pat and Harry Loughnane were found . Before the brothers were given a proper funeral , a local doctor was asked to examine the remains - his report showed that both men had , at first , been sadistically battered ; the eldest of the brothers , Pat , had both wrists broken and both legs broken , while Harry had had two fingers removed by a saw , while still alive , and his right arm was only attached to the remains of the charred body by sinews.
The doctor stated that the damage to the head , neck and upper-chest area of both men was caused , in his opinion , by "hand grenades (which) were put in their mouths and that these then exploded ..."
(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.
TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......
".......After we took control of both British Army trucks , we escorted the thirteen British soldiers to an old house , sat them down and gave them a couple of mugs of tea . We then pointed them in the direction of Macroom and told them to go . We heard they returned later , with support , but all they found was two burnt-out trucks ......."
" While some of our number escorted the Brits to the old house , the rest of us examined the lorries and their loads . We found nothing of any military value among the stores carried . The large quantity of paint in tins appeared to be the most valuable material . Perhaps it might come in useful in the construction of arms-dumps , mines and other things . In any case , we felt it would be wanton destruction to give it to the flames . Accordingly , we set to work and , taking it to nearby dykes and trenches away from the roadside , dumped it into them with little ceremony .
But if we had been somewhat careless about the disposal of the paint there was , in the background , an unknown warrior who deprecated our rough and ready methods , and took steps to correct them . He belonged to that type which , in any emergency , hates to see wilful waste - a firm believer in suitable proverbs , he always did his best to realise them ; the "ill-wind that blew somebody good" had often blown this character's way , for the simple reason that he had caused it to veer in his direction ......"
(MORE LATER).
A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......
Fianna Fail , Brian Lenihan , Charles Haughey , George Schultz and Saint Patrick ;
....a story from 'Magill Magazine' , 12th November 1987 , pages 19 and 20 . A 'snap-shot' of Ireland in the 1980's , in 12 parts ...
(10 of 12).
The absence of tangible progress on the administration of justice in the North of Ireland , together with the in-fact-unrelated but highly emotive case of the Birmingham Six , makes it virtually impossible for Fianna Fail to bring the Extradition Act into effect .
But even on this , the one issue to do with Anglo-Irish relations on which Fianna Fail took a clear and detailed stand in opposition , Brian Lenihan has had difficulty in adjusting to the convolutions of his leader's policy . He entered heartily into the role of easy-going friendship with the British , to the extent of effectively blaming the IRA for the deaths at Loughgall in May (1987), at a time when middle-of-the-road nationalists like Austin Currie (SDLP) were calling for an inquiry .
In an RTE interview on September 20 (1987), Brian Lenihan strongly implied that the (Free State) government would bring the Extradition Act into force , by saying that there was no connection between the Act and the reform of the administration of justice in the Six Counties , even though the two are explicitly linked in Article 8 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement (Hillsborough Treaty).
(MORE LATER).
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
PAT AND HARRY LOUGHNANE , Galway - tortured to death by the Black and Tans , 1920.......
.......The Black and Tan truck stopped in Moy O'Hynes Wood and the Loughnane brothers were thrown out of the back of it . They were dazed from the beating they had got . The Tans marched the two of them deep into the Wood ; locals later reported hearing four shots .......
The following day (ie Saturday , 27th November 1920) , rumour was rife in the neighbourhood that Pat and Harry Loughnane had been dragged into the Moy O'Hynes Wood and shot dead by the Black and Tans ; that rumour also insisted that Harry Loughnane somehow survived the ordeal - the Tans heard the same rumour ....
It was early on Sunday morning (28th November 1920) that the Brits again entered the Wood - they were observed loading something into the back of their lorry and driving off at speed towards the small town of Umbriste (near Ardrahan , on the Gort to Clarinbridge road); it later transpired that the Black and Tans burned the bodies of the Loughnane brothers when they arrived at Umbriste but even then they were not satisfied - so they dug a hole and threw the bodies in to it .
However , because of the rocky terrain , the Tans were unable to fully cover their tracks and were convinced that the charred remains would be found ; they dug them up and carried them to a near-by pond , weighted them down , and threw them in - they then apparently poured a couple of gallons of dirty engine oil into the pond at that same spot .......
(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.
TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......
"....... The IRA Unit had taken the first of the British Army trucks ; the Brit sentry had been disarmed - but the Brit soldiers at the second truck refused to surrender when offered the chance ......."
" Throwing themselves flat , the British soldiers took the best cover they could get - under the lorry . A volley from the IRA Unit tore splinters from the woodwork over their heads and rattled on the ironwork . That helped them to decide otherwise ; a white flag was raised on a rifle . The third and final phase of the operation was over . Eleven rifles and bayonets , with one-hundred rounds for each rifle , was the prize of the day . No lives had been lost - not even a man on either side had been scratched . That was all to the good . The British Government would regret the loss of the arms , but a Brit Tommy or two killed or wounded would not worry them unduly . The arms would be used against them again , but they could get another 'Tommy' for a shilling a day .
But the Brit Tommys did not look at it that way - they felt , and small blame to them , that their own life and limbs were of far greater importance to 'Thomas Atkins' than was a rifle to 'John Bull' ! We looked at it in that light also , and always , when 'Tommy' was reasonable , gave him the benefit of the doubt . The British soldiers from Ceimaneigh were now brought over , and the thirteen men were taken to a nearby dis-used house ; a fire was lighted for them , kettles were boiled and tea was made for them . After the tea , which they really appreciated , three of our men marched them , two deep , down the road through the village . Showing them the road to Macroom , they were told that they were free to go in that direction .
They had not gone many miles when they met a strong relief party and returned with them to the scene of action . They found the two lorries completely burned out ...."
(MORE LATER).
A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......
Fianna Fail , Brian Lenihan , Charles Haughey , George Schultz and Saint Patrick ;
....a story from 'Magill Magazine' , 12th November 1987 , pages 19 and 20 . A 'snap-shot' of Ireland in the 1980's , in 12 parts ...
(9 of 12).
Fine Gael's Peter Barry , who maintains that it would be " criminal and treasonous " to damage the Hillsborough Treaty , is phlegmatic about the extradition question and sees " no serious prospect " of the British walking away from the 'deal' - " What people forget is that the British did'nt come into the Agreement for nothing . They're there because there's something in it for them - it's in their interests . "
The problem for Brian Lenihan is that Fianna Fail in opposition mounted one of their more effective operations in parliamentary debate precisely on the question of the Extradition Act . They moved amendments calling for a prima facie case to be established before extradition could be granted , for the removal of the clause in the Act which allows it to apply retroactively to offences committed before the passage of the Act , and to extend the powers of the courts or the (Free State) Minister for Justice to refuse to grant an extradition on the grounds that the standards of justice in the jurisdiction to which the prisoner was to be sent were unsatisfactory .
MORE LATER).
.......The Black and Tan truck stopped in Moy O'Hynes Wood and the Loughnane brothers were thrown out of the back of it . They were dazed from the beating they had got . The Tans marched the two of them deep into the Wood ; locals later reported hearing four shots .......
The following day (ie Saturday , 27th November 1920) , rumour was rife in the neighbourhood that Pat and Harry Loughnane had been dragged into the Moy O'Hynes Wood and shot dead by the Black and Tans ; that rumour also insisted that Harry Loughnane somehow survived the ordeal - the Tans heard the same rumour ....
It was early on Sunday morning (28th November 1920) that the Brits again entered the Wood - they were observed loading something into the back of their lorry and driving off at speed towards the small town of Umbriste (near Ardrahan , on the Gort to Clarinbridge road); it later transpired that the Black and Tans burned the bodies of the Loughnane brothers when they arrived at Umbriste but even then they were not satisfied - so they dug a hole and threw the bodies in to it .
However , because of the rocky terrain , the Tans were unable to fully cover their tracks and were convinced that the charred remains would be found ; they dug them up and carried them to a near-by pond , weighted them down , and threw them in - they then apparently poured a couple of gallons of dirty engine oil into the pond at that same spot .......
(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.
TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......
"....... The IRA Unit had taken the first of the British Army trucks ; the Brit sentry had been disarmed - but the Brit soldiers at the second truck refused to surrender when offered the chance ......."
" Throwing themselves flat , the British soldiers took the best cover they could get - under the lorry . A volley from the IRA Unit tore splinters from the woodwork over their heads and rattled on the ironwork . That helped them to decide otherwise ; a white flag was raised on a rifle . The third and final phase of the operation was over . Eleven rifles and bayonets , with one-hundred rounds for each rifle , was the prize of the day . No lives had been lost - not even a man on either side had been scratched . That was all to the good . The British Government would regret the loss of the arms , but a Brit Tommy or two killed or wounded would not worry them unduly . The arms would be used against them again , but they could get another 'Tommy' for a shilling a day .
But the Brit Tommys did not look at it that way - they felt , and small blame to them , that their own life and limbs were of far greater importance to 'Thomas Atkins' than was a rifle to 'John Bull' ! We looked at it in that light also , and always , when 'Tommy' was reasonable , gave him the benefit of the doubt . The British soldiers from Ceimaneigh were now brought over , and the thirteen men were taken to a nearby dis-used house ; a fire was lighted for them , kettles were boiled and tea was made for them . After the tea , which they really appreciated , three of our men marched them , two deep , down the road through the village . Showing them the road to Macroom , they were told that they were free to go in that direction .
They had not gone many miles when they met a strong relief party and returned with them to the scene of action . They found the two lorries completely burned out ...."
(MORE LATER).
A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......
Fianna Fail , Brian Lenihan , Charles Haughey , George Schultz and Saint Patrick ;
....a story from 'Magill Magazine' , 12th November 1987 , pages 19 and 20 . A 'snap-shot' of Ireland in the 1980's , in 12 parts ...
(9 of 12).
Fine Gael's Peter Barry , who maintains that it would be " criminal and treasonous " to damage the Hillsborough Treaty , is phlegmatic about the extradition question and sees " no serious prospect " of the British walking away from the 'deal' - " What people forget is that the British did'nt come into the Agreement for nothing . They're there because there's something in it for them - it's in their interests . "
The problem for Brian Lenihan is that Fianna Fail in opposition mounted one of their more effective operations in parliamentary debate precisely on the question of the Extradition Act . They moved amendments calling for a prima facie case to be established before extradition could be granted , for the removal of the clause in the Act which allows it to apply retroactively to offences committed before the passage of the Act , and to extend the powers of the courts or the (Free State) Minister for Justice to refuse to grant an extradition on the grounds that the standards of justice in the jurisdiction to which the prisoner was to be sent were unsatisfactory .
MORE LATER).
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
PAT AND HARRY LOUGHNANE , Galway - tortured to death by the Black and Tans , 1920.......
....... the Loughnane brothers were thumped around in the cell by the Black and Tans for three or four hours ; they were then tied together and dragged behind a truck , on their way to the Headquarters of the Black and Tans in Drumharsna Castle .......
Both Pat and Harry Loughnane were at that stage too weak to run behind the truck , and ended up being dragged on the ground behind the Black and Tan truck ; on arrival at Drumharsna Castle , the rope was untied from the truck and the two men were dragged into another cell and beaten again .
At around 10.30 or 11pm that same night (ie Friday 26th November 1920) the Loughnane brothers were removed from the cell and put in the back of the truck ; they were pushed out of the back of same after travelling a few miles - the brothers would have been too dazed to realise it , but they were now in Moy O'Hynes Wood , and were being taken deep into the thicket of it by the Black and Tans .
Locals later reported hearing four shots.......
(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.
TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......
".......the group of British soldiers guarding one of the trucks had been , silently , forced to surrender ; one armed IRA Volunteer stayed with them while the rest of the IRA Unit headed for the second truck ......."
" Keeping well out of sight of the road on the southern side of it , the IRA Unit moved eastwards towards Tuirin Dubh . On the way they would deal with the British soldier acting as sentry . Now this was not to be an easy job , since the road fences were low and in some places absent altogether . However , Dan Lehane and Tadhg Twomey took positions behind the pillars of a gateway about seven hundred yards from the school . As the sentry came abreast of them they rushed out at him . At first he backed away as if to get room to use his rifle . Dan followed him up , his shotgun inside the soldier's guard , and repeatedly asked for the surrender of the man's rifle .
This at length the British soldier did , by dropping the weapon , and the second phase was over . The sentry was sent under escort to his comrades at the school . Pushing on to Tuirin Dubh , parallel to the road and south of it , the IRA Unit halted not far from the second lorry . Creeping slowly forward in line , they came quite near the British soldiers without being observed . It was now the twilight of this late July 1920 evening . As at Ceimaneigh , the Brits stood in a group near the lorry . The order to surrender was not in this case complied with ......."
(MORE LATER).
A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......
Fianna Fail , Brian Lenihan , Charles Haughey , George Schultz and Saint Patrick ;
....a story from 'Magill Magazine' , 12th November 1987 , pages 19 and 20 . A 'snap-shot' of Ireland in the 1980's , in 12 parts ...
(8 of 12).
Brian Lenihan was in Washington with Charles Haughey for the Saint Patrick Day celebrations , telling American Secretary of State George Schultz in a meeting that he was in a position to give " official confirmation " of the Dublin Administrations acceptance of the Hillsborough Treaty (this despite the fact that Fianna Fail had been , publicly , describing that Treaty as a "sell-out" !).
The suddenness of the turn-around and the fact that it was announced in America could not have been better designed to suggest that it was encouraged by pressure from the American government or by the American contributors to the International Fund set up under the 'Anglo-Irish Agreement' (ie the Hillsborough Treaty) . There was , however , another reason for the change of heart : domestic political expediency .....
Having ditched all of his previous reservations about the Treaty , Brian Lenihan was left with the thorny question of extradition . Even those most strongly committed to seeing that nothing should be allowed to endanger the Treaty , including Peter Barry (Fine Gael) , accept that the bringing into force of the Extradition Act would be a largely symbolic act with little practical significance , since the (Free State) courts have already re-defined the old (ie 1965) 'Extradition Act' in such a way as to give it the same effect ....
(MORE LATER).
....... the Loughnane brothers were thumped around in the cell by the Black and Tans for three or four hours ; they were then tied together and dragged behind a truck , on their way to the Headquarters of the Black and Tans in Drumharsna Castle .......
Both Pat and Harry Loughnane were at that stage too weak to run behind the truck , and ended up being dragged on the ground behind the Black and Tan truck ; on arrival at Drumharsna Castle , the rope was untied from the truck and the two men were dragged into another cell and beaten again .
At around 10.30 or 11pm that same night (ie Friday 26th November 1920) the Loughnane brothers were removed from the cell and put in the back of the truck ; they were pushed out of the back of same after travelling a few miles - the brothers would have been too dazed to realise it , but they were now in Moy O'Hynes Wood , and were being taken deep into the thicket of it by the Black and Tans .
Locals later reported hearing four shots.......
(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.
TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......
".......the group of British soldiers guarding one of the trucks had been , silently , forced to surrender ; one armed IRA Volunteer stayed with them while the rest of the IRA Unit headed for the second truck ......."
" Keeping well out of sight of the road on the southern side of it , the IRA Unit moved eastwards towards Tuirin Dubh . On the way they would deal with the British soldier acting as sentry . Now this was not to be an easy job , since the road fences were low and in some places absent altogether . However , Dan Lehane and Tadhg Twomey took positions behind the pillars of a gateway about seven hundred yards from the school . As the sentry came abreast of them they rushed out at him . At first he backed away as if to get room to use his rifle . Dan followed him up , his shotgun inside the soldier's guard , and repeatedly asked for the surrender of the man's rifle .
This at length the British soldier did , by dropping the weapon , and the second phase was over . The sentry was sent under escort to his comrades at the school . Pushing on to Tuirin Dubh , parallel to the road and south of it , the IRA Unit halted not far from the second lorry . Creeping slowly forward in line , they came quite near the British soldiers without being observed . It was now the twilight of this late July 1920 evening . As at Ceimaneigh , the Brits stood in a group near the lorry . The order to surrender was not in this case complied with ......."
(MORE LATER).
A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......
Fianna Fail , Brian Lenihan , Charles Haughey , George Schultz and Saint Patrick ;
....a story from 'Magill Magazine' , 12th November 1987 , pages 19 and 20 . A 'snap-shot' of Ireland in the 1980's , in 12 parts ...
(8 of 12).
Brian Lenihan was in Washington with Charles Haughey for the Saint Patrick Day celebrations , telling American Secretary of State George Schultz in a meeting that he was in a position to give " official confirmation " of the Dublin Administrations acceptance of the Hillsborough Treaty (this despite the fact that Fianna Fail had been , publicly , describing that Treaty as a "sell-out" !).
The suddenness of the turn-around and the fact that it was announced in America could not have been better designed to suggest that it was encouraged by pressure from the American government or by the American contributors to the International Fund set up under the 'Anglo-Irish Agreement' (ie the Hillsborough Treaty) . There was , however , another reason for the change of heart : domestic political expediency .....
Having ditched all of his previous reservations about the Treaty , Brian Lenihan was left with the thorny question of extradition . Even those most strongly committed to seeing that nothing should be allowed to endanger the Treaty , including Peter Barry (Fine Gael) , accept that the bringing into force of the Extradition Act would be a largely symbolic act with little practical significance , since the (Free State) courts have already re-defined the old (ie 1965) 'Extradition Act' in such a way as to give it the same effect ....
(MORE LATER).
Monday, March 29, 2004
PAT AND HARRY LOUGHNANE , Galway - tortured to death by the Black and Tans , 1920.......
....... The Loughnane brothers were working on the family farm at Shanaglish , County Galway , on 26th November 1920 when they were suddenly surrounded by the Black and Tans - the brothers were well-known locally as strong Irish Republicans , and both had a keen interest in Irish culture as well .......
The two brothers were slapped around a bit in the corn fields by the Black and Tans and then thrown into the back of the lorry belonging to the Tans - they were pushed off the lorry outside the Bridewell Barracks in Gort and put in a cell . People in near-by cells later reported hearing the brothers being thumped around by the Tans , who were well aware that the Loughnane brothers were active in the struggle for Irish Freedom .
After three or four hours of beating , the brothers were dragged out to the courtyard of Gort Bridewell and tied to each other ; the other end of the rope was then tied to the back of the truck , which drove off , heading for Drumharsna Castle , which was then the Headquarters of the Black and Tans in that area of Galway .......
(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.
TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......
".......We had thirteen men - so had the British , but they were better armed . However , they had split their force in two in order to guard both trucks , which were about a mile apart ......."
" I do not know what a 'giniral' would have done with such a badly equipped party in such circumstances ? Nothing at all , probably , but even if he tried , he could not do better . The taking of each British Army group separately had , of course , one serious disadvantage . Two of the three operations should be carried out quietly , otherwise the Tuirin Dubh group might separate and take up unknown and perhaps impregnable positions .
Twilight comes early under the shadow of the hills around the Pass of Ceimaneigh . As soon as the light began to fail , the full group of IRA Volunteers began to move . Making a short detour towards the mouth of the Pass , they crossed to the southern side of the road . Keeping south and moving east , they soon came to the back of the school . Sending forward a scout to the schoolyard , they quickly followed on receipt of his signal . Stooping low , they were soon in line behind the front wall of the playground .
In front and underneath them were the British soldiers grouped near the lorry . "Put up your hands," a voice spoke quietly - a little startled , the Brit Tommies looked upwards . A long line of men , with guns pointing ominously at them , stood behind the wall . With little hesitation , the Tommies raised their hands . No noise had so far been made . The IRA men took the rifles and equipment and , leaving one armed Volunteer to keep an eye on the disarmed British soldiers , departed for the second truck ......."
(MORE LATER).
A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......
Fianna Fail , Brian Lenihan , Charles Haughey , George Schultz and Saint Patrick ;
....a story from 'Magill Magazine' , 12th November 1987 , pages 19 and 20 . A 'snap-shot' of Ireland in the 1980's , in 12 parts ...
(7 of 12).
It was clear that Brian Lenihan would now have to deal with a vocal and determined section of Irish Americans that would no longer be content with a few words about the Anglo-Irish Agreement (ie 1985 Hillsborough Treaty) and a tribute to the ties of friendship between America and Ireland .
What is more , this section is one which still has very close ties to families and friends in Ireland , making it a potential political embarrassment back home .
A week after his second , unsuccessful, meeting with the Irish Immigration Reform Movement in New York , Brian Lenihan's 'Newsweek' interview appeared on the news-stands . The timing could hardly have been calculated to do more damage to his standing among the articulate young Irish emigrants .......
(MORE LATER).
....... The Loughnane brothers were working on the family farm at Shanaglish , County Galway , on 26th November 1920 when they were suddenly surrounded by the Black and Tans - the brothers were well-known locally as strong Irish Republicans , and both had a keen interest in Irish culture as well .......
The two brothers were slapped around a bit in the corn fields by the Black and Tans and then thrown into the back of the lorry belonging to the Tans - they were pushed off the lorry outside the Bridewell Barracks in Gort and put in a cell . People in near-by cells later reported hearing the brothers being thumped around by the Tans , who were well aware that the Loughnane brothers were active in the struggle for Irish Freedom .
After three or four hours of beating , the brothers were dragged out to the courtyard of Gort Bridewell and tied to each other ; the other end of the rope was then tied to the back of the truck , which drove off , heading for Drumharsna Castle , which was then the Headquarters of the Black and Tans in that area of Galway .......
(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.
TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......
".......We had thirteen men - so had the British , but they were better armed . However , they had split their force in two in order to guard both trucks , which were about a mile apart ......."
" I do not know what a 'giniral' would have done with such a badly equipped party in such circumstances ? Nothing at all , probably , but even if he tried , he could not do better . The taking of each British Army group separately had , of course , one serious disadvantage . Two of the three operations should be carried out quietly , otherwise the Tuirin Dubh group might separate and take up unknown and perhaps impregnable positions .
Twilight comes early under the shadow of the hills around the Pass of Ceimaneigh . As soon as the light began to fail , the full group of IRA Volunteers began to move . Making a short detour towards the mouth of the Pass , they crossed to the southern side of the road . Keeping south and moving east , they soon came to the back of the school . Sending forward a scout to the schoolyard , they quickly followed on receipt of his signal . Stooping low , they were soon in line behind the front wall of the playground .
In front and underneath them were the British soldiers grouped near the lorry . "Put up your hands," a voice spoke quietly - a little startled , the Brit Tommies looked upwards . A long line of men , with guns pointing ominously at them , stood behind the wall . With little hesitation , the Tommies raised their hands . No noise had so far been made . The IRA men took the rifles and equipment and , leaving one armed Volunteer to keep an eye on the disarmed British soldiers , departed for the second truck ......."
(MORE LATER).
A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......
Fianna Fail , Brian Lenihan , Charles Haughey , George Schultz and Saint Patrick ;
....a story from 'Magill Magazine' , 12th November 1987 , pages 19 and 20 . A 'snap-shot' of Ireland in the 1980's , in 12 parts ...
(7 of 12).
It was clear that Brian Lenihan would now have to deal with a vocal and determined section of Irish Americans that would no longer be content with a few words about the Anglo-Irish Agreement (ie 1985 Hillsborough Treaty) and a tribute to the ties of friendship between America and Ireland .
What is more , this section is one which still has very close ties to families and friends in Ireland , making it a potential political embarrassment back home .
A week after his second , unsuccessful, meeting with the Irish Immigration Reform Movement in New York , Brian Lenihan's 'Newsweek' interview appeared on the news-stands . The timing could hardly have been calculated to do more damage to his standing among the articulate young Irish emigrants .......
(MORE LATER).
Sunday, March 28, 2004
PAT AND HARRY LOUGHNANE , Galway - tortured to death by the Black and Tans , 1920.
" I am of the opinion that hand grenades were put in their mouths and that these then exploded ....." --
--....part of the comments made by the doctor who examined the remains of the Loughnane brothers .
Pat and Harry Loughnane were well-known and equally well-liked and respected in their neighbourhood of South-Galway . Pat (the eldest) was an IRA man and Secretary of Sinn Fein in the area ; he was also active in GAA circles .
His younger brother , Harry , played in goal for the local Beagh Hurling Club , and was in charge of the local cumann of Sinn Fein ; both brothers worked on the family farm in Shanaglish , County Galway , and were working in the corn fields on Friday , 26th November 1920 , when the Black and Tans surrounded them .......
(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.
TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......
"......Two British Army trucks had got themselves stuck on the soft bog road ; thirteen enemy personnel , eleven of whom were armed . The local IRA Unit were aware of the situation ......."
" On arrival in the village of Ballingeary , IRA Volunteer Dan O'Sullivan sought out the brothers Dannie and Jer Shea ; he found them , and Dannie immediately left to mobilise some armed men in the shortest possible time . Christy Lucey and Liam Twomey were already near at hand in Tuirin Dubh . Dan Lehane , 'Cahir' , Pat Murray and Jack Moynihan were that day working at Doirin Flodaigh and , hearing the news , were quickly on the spot . Dan Thade Seain (' O'Leary') , John Con ('Cronin') , John McCann ('MacSweeney') , Connie and Donncha Cronin , and Jerome Creed all together made thirteen , the same number as the British soldiers .
The arms of the Volunteers , however , bore no relation in quality to those of their opponents . Eleven shotguns , a carbine and a nondescript rifle were the weapons . But the spirit makes up for the lack of material things . The dispositions of the British soldiers now made things a little difficult - five riflemen guarded each lorry . As a conecting link between the two parties (they were about one mile apart) the eleventh armed man patrolled the road . It was decided not to split our forces for a simultaneous attack on both lorries and on the sentry . Instead , the plan was adopted of starting with a full strength attempt on the leading , or Ceimaneigh , group . It certainly made matters far simpler than by the simultaneous movement of three parties , which would require fairly accurate timing and some system of signals and signallers .
Besides , considering the poor quality of our arms , it was better to keep them all together to get the best effect ...."
(MORE LATER).
A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......
Fianna Fail , Brian Lenihan , Charles Haughey , George Schultz and Saint Patrick ;
....a story from 'Magill Magazine' , 12th November 1987 , pages 19 and 20 . A 'snap-shot' of Ireland in the 1980's , in 12 parts ...
(6 of 12).
The 'Irish Immigration Reform Movement' had had a meeting with Brian Lenihan , Free State Minister for Foreign Affairs -
" We understood that Lenihan was going to offer us concrete support and that the next meeting would tie it all down , " said 'IIRM' member , Patrick Hurley . When the time for the second meeting came , however, the 'IIRM' were denied a meeting on their own with Brian Lenihan and instead were grouped with the Ancient Order of Hibernians , the Catholic Charities of New York and a group representing Irish-American trade unionists . " Whenever we raised any of the concrete problems we were offered solutions which had already been examined and discarded months previously ," said Patrick Hurley .
Another member of the 'Irish Immigration Reform Movement' stated - " We were left with the impression of a man who had'nt done enough to help us , pulling away in a big black limousine to go to a cocktail party . "
(MORE LATER).
" I am of the opinion that hand grenades were put in their mouths and that these then exploded ....." --
--....part of the comments made by the doctor who examined the remains of the Loughnane brothers .
Pat and Harry Loughnane were well-known and equally well-liked and respected in their neighbourhood of South-Galway . Pat (the eldest) was an IRA man and Secretary of Sinn Fein in the area ; he was also active in GAA circles .
His younger brother , Harry , played in goal for the local Beagh Hurling Club , and was in charge of the local cumann of Sinn Fein ; both brothers worked on the family farm in Shanaglish , County Galway , and were working in the corn fields on Friday , 26th November 1920 , when the Black and Tans surrounded them .......
(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.
TUIRIN DUBH and CEIMANEIGH .......
"......Two British Army trucks had got themselves stuck on the soft bog road ; thirteen enemy personnel , eleven of whom were armed . The local IRA Unit were aware of the situation ......."
" On arrival in the village of Ballingeary , IRA Volunteer Dan O'Sullivan sought out the brothers Dannie and Jer Shea ; he found them , and Dannie immediately left to mobilise some armed men in the shortest possible time . Christy Lucey and Liam Twomey were already near at hand in Tuirin Dubh . Dan Lehane , 'Cahir' , Pat Murray and Jack Moynihan were that day working at Doirin Flodaigh and , hearing the news , were quickly on the spot . Dan Thade Seain (' O'Leary') , John Con ('Cronin') , John McCann ('MacSweeney') , Connie and Donncha Cronin , and Jerome Creed all together made thirteen , the same number as the British soldiers .
The arms of the Volunteers , however , bore no relation in quality to those of their opponents . Eleven shotguns , a carbine and a nondescript rifle were the weapons . But the spirit makes up for the lack of material things . The dispositions of the British soldiers now made things a little difficult - five riflemen guarded each lorry . As a conecting link between the two parties (they were about one mile apart) the eleventh armed man patrolled the road . It was decided not to split our forces for a simultaneous attack on both lorries and on the sentry . Instead , the plan was adopted of starting with a full strength attempt on the leading , or Ceimaneigh , group . It certainly made matters far simpler than by the simultaneous movement of three parties , which would require fairly accurate timing and some system of signals and signallers .
Besides , considering the poor quality of our arms , it was better to keep them all together to get the best effect ...."
(MORE LATER).
A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED GAFFE .......
Fianna Fail , Brian Lenihan , Charles Haughey , George Schultz and Saint Patrick ;
....a story from 'Magill Magazine' , 12th November 1987 , pages 19 and 20 . A 'snap-shot' of Ireland in the 1980's , in 12 parts ...
(6 of 12).
The 'Irish Immigration Reform Movement' had had a meeting with Brian Lenihan , Free State Minister for Foreign Affairs -
" We understood that Lenihan was going to offer us concrete support and that the next meeting would tie it all down , " said 'IIRM' member , Patrick Hurley . When the time for the second meeting came , however, the 'IIRM' were denied a meeting on their own with Brian Lenihan and instead were grouped with the Ancient Order of Hibernians , the Catholic Charities of New York and a group representing Irish-American trade unionists . " Whenever we raised any of the concrete problems we were offered solutions which had already been examined and discarded months previously ," said Patrick Hurley .
Another member of the 'Irish Immigration Reform Movement' stated - " We were left with the impression of a man who had'nt done enough to help us , pulling away in a big black limousine to go to a cocktail party . "
(MORE LATER).
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