The Irish-American 'GROWL' ; the 'AARIR'- 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic ' .......
....... Joseph McGarrity continued to support the 1921 Treaty of Surrender , with gusto , until he realised that Eamon de Valera , Cathal Brugha , Austin Stack and others were against it ; he then changed his position on the issue . In 1926 , de Valera formed Fianna Fail and left the Republican Movement - in 1927 , Fianna Fail entered Leinster House . McGarrity continued in his support for de Valera and Fianna Fail .......
Fianna Fail had by now strayed so far from the Republican path that Joe McGarrity began to 'go cool' in his relationship with them - this happened in the early 1930's , when IRA people were being not only jailed by Fianna Fail , but executed by them , too . Also in the mid-1930's , McGarrity became the 'main man' behind the new ' Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes ' organisation , a fantastic money-spinner in its day . But that's another tangent.....
Anyway - back to the 1921 Treaty of Surrender ; it caused a split in the Republican Movement in Ireland and , of course , the 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic ' , which was by then just 13 months on the go , followed suit - and split ; it found itself in a weakened position and unable to provide proper assistance to the Irish Republican cause during the 1922-1923 Civil War .
By the time Eamon de Valera left the Republican Movement to establish Fianna Fail (1926), the 'AARIR' existed , to all intent and purpose , in name only .......
(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.
A HARVEST DAY IN 1920 .......
".......I arrived at my uncle Patsy's farm , to help with the threshing ; when I took off my coat , I realised that all eyes were on me . I was armed with two revolvers ; I took them off and hid them , in a horse-cart . My uncle approached me ......."
" " Does your father know you are here today ? " , my uncle asked me . " He sent me ," I replied . " My Gor," he said . " What's wrong , Patsy ?" I asked . " Those things you brought - does he know you have them ? " " He does well ," I said . "Oh my!" said Patsy , and left it at that ...
Raising my pike , I made a run to the haystack and quickly reached the top . From my point of vantage I had a full view of everything ; it was a pleasant sight . The well-made stacks , as yet untouched , but with a man on each poised for work . Around and on the thresher others stood ready . All watched the long belt between the steam engine and mill as it gathered speed . Soon the whine of the drum reached its peak and its music changed abruptly as the first sheaf went down .
Then the steady tune again as the even feed was maintained ; the work had started . I waited for the man on the next stack to me and nearer the thresher to remove the top . When he had made a level platform I started to throw the sheaves from my stack to his . He caught them and threw them on to the thresher platform . The work was easy . I enjoyed the exercise , the brilliant day , the general activity . I forgot about the Black and Tans , the Auxiliaries and all disturbing things .
I could see and sense that my neighbours working around me had forgotten me and that all were enjoying themselves . I was glad . I even regretted a little that I had come down into their happy valley and caused them perhaps not a little uneasiness . However , that, I reflected , was now forgotten and the chances of any enemy coming this way were very small . Half an hour passed . I was now wholly engrossed in the work . It was easy and pleasant . I passed the sheaves to my neighbour and he removed them at the same speed . Suddenly I became aware that I was gaining on him .
He was not removing the sheaves ; I glanced upwards - he had stopped , and had turned through a right-angle and was now gazing earnestly to the south and in a downward direction . I looked at the others - all those in the high positions were in just the same posture : soon all work ceased . I listened . I heard nothing but the even whine of the now idle machine-drum . Then a shout went up : "The Black-and-Tans - up the road . Two lorries ! " Then I heard that then dreaded sound made by the engines and gears of the Crossley Tenders ....... "
(MORE LATER).
THE STALKING OF JOHN STALKER ;
Derek Dunne (journalist) traces the background to the 'STALKER AFFAIR' and details the weekend that JOHN STALKER flew to IRELAND as a hero .
(This article was first published in the 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , on 18th February 1988 , pages 14 , 15 and 16 ; we reproduce it here in 12 parts ....)
(10 of 12).
The day after John Stalker appeared on the 'Late Late Show' was dry and cool , and from early morning the queues outside Waterstone's Bookshop on Dawson Street , Dublin , had started to gather . John Stalker came into the shop at around eleven , and a wild cheer went up . Hundreds stood outside and queued to get their copy of the book (price £12.95p) signed . He smiled and chatted to each and every customer , and looked somewhat birdlike sitting behind a mound of books . Chic music played from the public address system as customers ringed right around the shop .
The soft English-accented British policeman-turned-author was popular . By early afternoon , Waterstone's had to close the shop for security reasons . Across the road , at Hodges Figgis book-shop , the queue was starting . Prominent at its head was a tall and balding Special Branch man , of a senior rank . He had waited for hours . And then the March passed by ...
...The crowd on the Anti-Extradition March was estimated at five-thousand people by some observers , and was the largest for any issue relating to the North since the Hunger-Strike marches of 1981 . It was a political response to the Stalker Affair and the Birmingham Six decision . The large crowd walked past the queue at Hodges Figgis chanting " Stop shoot-to-kill " and " Release the Birmingham Six " .
Inside the book shop , John Stalker signed copies of his book , still shaking hands with the customers . When the march reached the GPO , there were various speakers ; one of the female speakers stated - " Never in the history of Ireand since partition has so much been surrendered by so few in such a short space of time . " She was referring to Charlie Haughey , the (Leinster House) Administration , the Hillsborough Treaty and Extradition .
(MORE LATER).
Friday, April 16, 2004
The Irish-American 'GROWL' ; the 'AARIR'- 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic ' .......
....... In America , Joseph McGarrity was going 'hell for leather' to 'sell' the alleged 'benefits' of the 1921 Treaty to his fellow Irish-American comrades ; he apparently believed himself that that Treaty was the answer to the question of the British presence in Ireland .......
However , when it was brought to Joseph McGarrity's attention that , amongst others , Cathal Brugha , Austin Stack and Eamon de Valera had stated that the 1921 Treaty was " ...in violent conflict with the wishes of the Irish people " , he re-evaluated his position to that Treaty (!), thus 'repairing' his position with the Anti-Treaty forces . There is another article to be recorded here regarding the McGarrity 'thread' (another tangent.....!)....
.....about how McGarrity continued to support de Valera even when de Valera left the Republican Movement and formed Fianna Fail in 1926 ; about how McGarrity even continued his support for Fianna Fail when they entered Leinster House in 1927 (a move which even the remnants of the 'Clan na Gael' organisation in America could not stomach , thus prompting THEM to dis-own the Fianna Fail group !) .
But Joseph McGarrity did have his limits .......
(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.
A HARVEST DAY IN 1920 .......
".......My father was concerned that the Brits would raid our house that very day ; he suggested that I visit his brother , my uncle Patsy , in the neighbouring village of Ballyvoig ....... "
" As I descended the 'glittering hill' into Balyvoig , I could see in my uncles haggard that the farm-work was ready to start . I turned in the gateway from the public road as if I came full of anxiety for the work . Nor was I disappointed - my uncle Patsy approached and , full of a genuine desire to get me working immediately , handed me a pike , saying - " Go up on that hay-stack there ." " Very well ," I answered and , taking the pike from him , stuck it in the ground .
Quickly I removed my coat and , turning , walked back to where a horse side-car rested on its heels on the field just inside the gate . As I turned , I saw , and felt , the impact of a score of eyes on my back ; I knew the reason . As I entered the gateway I had looked fairly harmless . True , I wore the riding breeches and gaiters of the IRA , but that was not alarming . What was very alarming was the military equipment which the removal of my coat disclosed - a Sam Brown belt with two cross belts , and holsters which showed the butts of two .45 Smith and Wesson service revolvers .
Quickly I opened the waist belt and , removing the middle or top cushion of the side-car , I opened the 'well' and placed in my guns and ammunition . Back went the cover and cushion , and , throwing my coat carelessly on top , I walked back to my pike . I plucked it up and started towards the stack indicated by my uncle . He lifted a warning hand to me . I stopped ....... "
(MORE LATER).
THE STALKING OF JOHN STALKER ;
Derek Dunne (journalist) traces the background to the 'STALKER AFFAIR' and details the weekend that JOHN STALKER flew to IRELAND as a hero .
(This article was first published in the 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , on 18th February 1988 , pages 14 , 15 and 16 ; we reproduce it here in 12 parts ....)
(9 of 12).
Then there was the weekend that John Stalker came to Ireland . He appeared on the 'Late Late Show' ('1169...' comment - a television programme on RTE [Free State] Television , hosted by Gay Byrne , a favourite of 'The Establishment') and gave a stunning performance . He came across as an honest copper who was shafted . He expressed the belief that nobody would ever take the job of investigating the RUC again . He did'nt want to be a hero , or portrayed as a knight in shining armour . That's how it appeared .
But Irish people were looking to a British 'bobby' for justice for Irish people ! Some hours before Stalker made his appearance to a million viewers , a relative of each of the six dead men held a press conference at the O'Lehane Hall in Cavendish Row , off O'Connell Street , in Dublin . There were five women and one man seated behind a table . It was a wet and windy day .
Photographers and journalists looked on quietly as each of the relatives was asked a question or made a point . The television cameras were there - so , too, was Charlie Bird , from RTE - ('1169...' comment -another favourite of 'The Establishment') it's 'Chief Reporter' ; he asked Gervaise McKerr's mother what her view of violence was . Was she against it , for example ? Yes , she was against violence . Was she against the violence of the IRA ? She was against all violence . Charlie Bird pushed her a little further - Mrs. McKerr broke down and cried .
The substantive issue of State-authorised murder , perjury and cover-up was forgotten . And from the safety of his Dublin home , Charlie Bird was only interested in what she thought of the IRA . When the conference was over , the journalists looked as if they had been , to borrow a phrase , struck by plastic bullets . All of the relatives obliged camera people by staying behind for photos . Behind the camera was a poster which read - 'BRITISH JUSTICE' and 'STOP EXTRADITION' . It had photos of the 'Birmingham Six' on it . The press people took it down before they took shots ...
As the press dismantled their microphones and cameras , the six relatives went downstairs to get a cup of tea . Then they were going to Leinster House , they said , to hand in a letter . The letter would ask for justice .......
(MORE LATER).
....... In America , Joseph McGarrity was going 'hell for leather' to 'sell' the alleged 'benefits' of the 1921 Treaty to his fellow Irish-American comrades ; he apparently believed himself that that Treaty was the answer to the question of the British presence in Ireland .......
However , when it was brought to Joseph McGarrity's attention that , amongst others , Cathal Brugha , Austin Stack and Eamon de Valera had stated that the 1921 Treaty was " ...in violent conflict with the wishes of the Irish people " , he re-evaluated his position to that Treaty (!), thus 'repairing' his position with the Anti-Treaty forces . There is another article to be recorded here regarding the McGarrity 'thread' (another tangent.....!)....
.....about how McGarrity continued to support de Valera even when de Valera left the Republican Movement and formed Fianna Fail in 1926 ; about how McGarrity even continued his support for Fianna Fail when they entered Leinster House in 1927 (a move which even the remnants of the 'Clan na Gael' organisation in America could not stomach , thus prompting THEM to dis-own the Fianna Fail group !) .
But Joseph McGarrity did have his limits .......
(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.
A HARVEST DAY IN 1920 .......
".......My father was concerned that the Brits would raid our house that very day ; he suggested that I visit his brother , my uncle Patsy , in the neighbouring village of Ballyvoig ....... "
" As I descended the 'glittering hill' into Balyvoig , I could see in my uncles haggard that the farm-work was ready to start . I turned in the gateway from the public road as if I came full of anxiety for the work . Nor was I disappointed - my uncle Patsy approached and , full of a genuine desire to get me working immediately , handed me a pike , saying - " Go up on that hay-stack there ." " Very well ," I answered and , taking the pike from him , stuck it in the ground .
Quickly I removed my coat and , turning , walked back to where a horse side-car rested on its heels on the field just inside the gate . As I turned , I saw , and felt , the impact of a score of eyes on my back ; I knew the reason . As I entered the gateway I had looked fairly harmless . True , I wore the riding breeches and gaiters of the IRA , but that was not alarming . What was very alarming was the military equipment which the removal of my coat disclosed - a Sam Brown belt with two cross belts , and holsters which showed the butts of two .45 Smith and Wesson service revolvers .
Quickly I opened the waist belt and , removing the middle or top cushion of the side-car , I opened the 'well' and placed in my guns and ammunition . Back went the cover and cushion , and , throwing my coat carelessly on top , I walked back to my pike . I plucked it up and started towards the stack indicated by my uncle . He lifted a warning hand to me . I stopped ....... "
(MORE LATER).
THE STALKING OF JOHN STALKER ;
Derek Dunne (journalist) traces the background to the 'STALKER AFFAIR' and details the weekend that JOHN STALKER flew to IRELAND as a hero .
(This article was first published in the 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , on 18th February 1988 , pages 14 , 15 and 16 ; we reproduce it here in 12 parts ....)
(9 of 12).
Then there was the weekend that John Stalker came to Ireland . He appeared on the 'Late Late Show' ('1169...' comment - a television programme on RTE [Free State] Television , hosted by Gay Byrne , a favourite of 'The Establishment') and gave a stunning performance . He came across as an honest copper who was shafted . He expressed the belief that nobody would ever take the job of investigating the RUC again . He did'nt want to be a hero , or portrayed as a knight in shining armour . That's how it appeared .
But Irish people were looking to a British 'bobby' for justice for Irish people ! Some hours before Stalker made his appearance to a million viewers , a relative of each of the six dead men held a press conference at the O'Lehane Hall in Cavendish Row , off O'Connell Street , in Dublin . There were five women and one man seated behind a table . It was a wet and windy day .
Photographers and journalists looked on quietly as each of the relatives was asked a question or made a point . The television cameras were there - so , too, was Charlie Bird , from RTE - ('1169...' comment -another favourite of 'The Establishment') it's 'Chief Reporter' ; he asked Gervaise McKerr's mother what her view of violence was . Was she against it , for example ? Yes , she was against violence . Was she against the violence of the IRA ? She was against all violence . Charlie Bird pushed her a little further - Mrs. McKerr broke down and cried .
The substantive issue of State-authorised murder , perjury and cover-up was forgotten . And from the safety of his Dublin home , Charlie Bird was only interested in what she thought of the IRA . When the conference was over , the journalists looked as if they had been , to borrow a phrase , struck by plastic bullets . All of the relatives obliged camera people by staying behind for photos . Behind the camera was a poster which read - 'BRITISH JUSTICE' and 'STOP EXTRADITION' . It had photos of the 'Birmingham Six' on it . The press people took it down before they took shots ...
As the press dismantled their microphones and cameras , the six relatives went downstairs to get a cup of tea . Then they were going to Leinster House , they said , to hand in a letter . The letter would ask for justice .......
(MORE LATER).
Thursday, April 15, 2004
The Irish-American 'GROWL' ; the 'AARIR'- 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic ' .......
.......Joseph McGarrity was doing his best to 'sell' the 1921 Treaty of Surrender to his fellow Irish-Americans ; he was questioned by his 'doubting-Thomas' comrades as to the title of the new Brit-free State .......
McGarrity told them - " Many people will say that the name 'Republic' has been dropped . No such thing has happened . Ireland is to be a Gaelic , not an English , Nation , and at the first sitting of Dail Erin (sic and sic - McGarrity was referring to the 26-County Parliament) the Gaelic name for the re-created nation (sic) was adopted . That name is 'Saorstat' , pronounced 'Seer Sthath' . If England prefers the correct English translation of the Gaelic term , which is 'Free State' , instead of the Latin word , 'Republic' , Ireland should be quite happy that England has made such a choice . "
McGarrity opined further about the 1921 Treaty of Surrender , stating that - " (If) it is approved and carried into effect , Ireland again becomes an independent sovereign nation (sic) among the nations ." He said the British would then leave and the Irish would then take possession of their rightful heritage and that - " ...every Irish heart (would) be lifted up to his (sic) maker in gratitude . "
it should be noted that not even Michael Collins (who turned on his comrades in the IRA and attempted to enforce the 'writ' of the new Free State) had made such outlandish claims about the Treaty which bore his signature .......!
(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.
A HARVEST DAY IN 1920 .
" A splendid morning about nine o'clock . I was alone at home in the village of Kilnamartyra (The Cross). My father came in - " This is a very fine day , Michael , and a likely one for a visit from those fellows . " By "those fellows" he meant two lorries of British Auxiliaries who often paid us an unexpected 'visit' . They had given us two close runs during the previous week . My father added - " You are all alone and my brother Patsy is threshing in Ballyvoig today . The devil a fear will they call there today or maybe ever call to the same place . You will have a fine peaceful day there . "
I took him at his word and went off to the threshing . Now , Ballyvoig , although but a mile due south of The Cross was a "lost valley." It was near enough to everywhere and as near to Macroom as my own village , and yet no enemy of any description had set foot on it ! All the inhabitants , including my uncle Patsy , were honest , peaceful and law-abiding . By this it must not be inferred that a gangster was descending on them this peaceful morning . Not so , but that none of the young men of the valley was even a nominal Volunteer.
One old man in the valley was enthusiastic about Ireland , and helped every movement , military and otherwise , to set her free . His name was Jack Lehane ( May he rest in peace , and all the others for that matter , for they ever hated to be disturbed)....... "
(MORE LATER).
THE STALKING OF JOHN STALKER ;
Derek Dunne (journalist) traces the background to the 'STALKER AFFAIR' and details the weekend that JOHN STALKER flew to IRELAND as a hero .
(This article was first published in the 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , on 18th February 1988 , pages 14 , 15 and 16 ; we reproduce it here in 12 parts ....)
(8 of 12).
John Stalker had managed to talk to three hundred RUC Officers before he was muzzled . Of their false and lying press statements about all three incidents , he said - " In rare circumstances ...(lies)... may be a legitimate tactic in a dirty war of disinformation , designed to fool the enemy . "
But , by then , the damage had been done - if the press could not trust simple press-releases coming from the RUC , what chance was there that the RUC could in any way be trusted by large sections of the nationalist community in the North who had always believed that the RUC was sectarian ?
John Stalker also talked to the men who carried out the killings , and he did offer a judgement on them ; " They responded positively and helpfully , but above all, honestly . I saw a great deal more to admire in that small group of RUC Constables and Sergeants than I did in far more of their senior colleagues . "
In January 1988 , the British Attorney-General decided that in the interest of 'national security' (sic) there would be no further prosecutions following Colin Sampson's report . Meanwhile , John Stalker had gathered all the information that was in the public domain and written a book on the entire affair (published in February 1988). This , he said , was to avoid the legal minefield that is the 'Official Secrets Act' .
(MORE LATER).
.......Joseph McGarrity was doing his best to 'sell' the 1921 Treaty of Surrender to his fellow Irish-Americans ; he was questioned by his 'doubting-Thomas' comrades as to the title of the new Brit-free State .......
McGarrity told them - " Many people will say that the name 'Republic' has been dropped . No such thing has happened . Ireland is to be a Gaelic , not an English , Nation , and at the first sitting of Dail Erin (sic and sic - McGarrity was referring to the 26-County Parliament) the Gaelic name for the re-created nation (sic) was adopted . That name is 'Saorstat' , pronounced 'Seer Sthath' . If England prefers the correct English translation of the Gaelic term , which is 'Free State' , instead of the Latin word , 'Republic' , Ireland should be quite happy that England has made such a choice . "
McGarrity opined further about the 1921 Treaty of Surrender , stating that - " (If) it is approved and carried into effect , Ireland again becomes an independent sovereign nation (sic) among the nations ." He said the British would then leave and the Irish would then take possession of their rightful heritage and that - " ...every Irish heart (would) be lifted up to his (sic) maker in gratitude . "
it should be noted that not even Michael Collins (who turned on his comrades in the IRA and attempted to enforce the 'writ' of the new Free State) had made such outlandish claims about the Treaty which bore his signature .......!
(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.
A HARVEST DAY IN 1920 .
" A splendid morning about nine o'clock . I was alone at home in the village of Kilnamartyra (The Cross). My father came in - " This is a very fine day , Michael , and a likely one for a visit from those fellows . " By "those fellows" he meant two lorries of British Auxiliaries who often paid us an unexpected 'visit' . They had given us two close runs during the previous week . My father added - " You are all alone and my brother Patsy is threshing in Ballyvoig today . The devil a fear will they call there today or maybe ever call to the same place . You will have a fine peaceful day there . "
I took him at his word and went off to the threshing . Now , Ballyvoig , although but a mile due south of The Cross was a "lost valley." It was near enough to everywhere and as near to Macroom as my own village , and yet no enemy of any description had set foot on it ! All the inhabitants , including my uncle Patsy , were honest , peaceful and law-abiding . By this it must not be inferred that a gangster was descending on them this peaceful morning . Not so , but that none of the young men of the valley was even a nominal Volunteer.
One old man in the valley was enthusiastic about Ireland , and helped every movement , military and otherwise , to set her free . His name was Jack Lehane ( May he rest in peace , and all the others for that matter , for they ever hated to be disturbed)....... "
(MORE LATER).
THE STALKING OF JOHN STALKER ;
Derek Dunne (journalist) traces the background to the 'STALKER AFFAIR' and details the weekend that JOHN STALKER flew to IRELAND as a hero .
(This article was first published in the 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , on 18th February 1988 , pages 14 , 15 and 16 ; we reproduce it here in 12 parts ....)
(8 of 12).
John Stalker had managed to talk to three hundred RUC Officers before he was muzzled . Of their false and lying press statements about all three incidents , he said - " In rare circumstances ...(lies)... may be a legitimate tactic in a dirty war of disinformation , designed to fool the enemy . "
But , by then , the damage had been done - if the press could not trust simple press-releases coming from the RUC , what chance was there that the RUC could in any way be trusted by large sections of the nationalist community in the North who had always believed that the RUC was sectarian ?
John Stalker also talked to the men who carried out the killings , and he did offer a judgement on them ; " They responded positively and helpfully , but above all, honestly . I saw a great deal more to admire in that small group of RUC Constables and Sergeants than I did in far more of their senior colleagues . "
In January 1988 , the British Attorney-General decided that in the interest of 'national security' (sic) there would be no further prosecutions following Colin Sampson's report . Meanwhile , John Stalker had gathered all the information that was in the public domain and written a book on the entire affair (published in February 1988). This , he said , was to avoid the legal minefield that is the 'Official Secrets Act' .
(MORE LATER).
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
The Irish-American 'GROWL' ; the 'AARIR'- 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic ' .......
.......The issue which split the already weakened Clan na Gael organisation , the 1921 Treaty of Surrender , was , at first , supported by one of the main Irish-American leaders in the U.S. - Joseph McGarrity .......
Joseph McGarrity claimed that the 1921 Treaty confirmed that " Irelands sovereign Independence is acknowledged by the British Cabinet and their action is approved by Britain's King . This much is certain ." He verbally attacked those in America who doubted that the Treaty was a legitmate conclusion to the centuries of occupation because of , amongst other reasons , the clause demanding an Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown contained in it .
Those who raised the issue of the Oath were , said McGarrity , " doubters (who) were guilty of a despicable attempt to make it appear that the citizens of the Republic (sic) of Ireland are to give allegiance to (Britains) King George . "
McGarrity dismissed the Oath ( "supposed Oath" , as he called it) as " a very clever juggling with words " on the part of the British - he suggested that it was simply a face-saving exercise by the Brits " to give as little hurt to the British Ministers and to the King's pride as possible . "
McGarrity was , at this stage , 'in for a penny , in for a pound'- some of his comrades in America were doubtful about the 'benefits' of the 1921 Treaty , while others had already rejected it and still others were in support of it ; amongst the questions raised about the Treaty was one concerning the name of the new ('officially' Brit-free) State .......
(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 SLIPPERY ROCK .......
".......We were on our way home , through the fields and hills ; on coming-up from a hollow , we spied two British Army lorries heading straight for us ......."
" Now they were quite near us , and if we turned back we would be quite exposed to them . We ran towards the only cover , the two pillars of the gate of the field which we were in , and which opened on to the road almost opposite Yankee Lyons's gate .
Yankee's wife stood in her own gateway , and watched us make ourselves as small as possible behind the pillars while the lorries tore past to Ballyvourney with troops to search for the perpetrators of the Slippery Rock "outrage" .
The British Army lorries kept going and , as we passed by Mrs. Lyons , through the gateway , she murmured fervently - " The Lord save us , lads , the Lord save us ! "
[END of -' THE SLIPPERY ROCK .......'].
(Tomorrow - 'A HARVEST DAY IN 1920').
THE STALKING OF JOHN STALKER ;
Derek Dunne (journalist) traces the background to the 'STALKER AFFAIR' and details the weekend that JOHN STALKER flew to IRELAND as a hero .
(This article was first published in the 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , on 18th February 1988 , pages 14 , 15 and 16 ; we reproduce it here in 12 parts ....)
(7 of 12).
There was a political outcry over British 'Lord Justice' Gibson's remarks . The 'Irish Times' newspaper called for a reform of the system of justice ('1169...' comment.... that gives an indication of just how serious the situation was ; that particular newspaper was then , and still is today , an 'establishment' newspaper - be it Irish [ie Free State] or British establishment...) and the disbandment of what would be termed "death squads" in Latin America .
But by now it had become clear that the evidence prepared against those charged was less than satisfactory , and the Deputy Chief Constable of the Manchester Police , John Stalker , was appointed to investigate the killings . That was in May 1984 , and the Chief Constable , John Hermon , and the British Director of Public Prosecutions for the Six Counties , Barry Shaw , were starting to fight in public .
It is a curious anomaly that Mr. Stalker had no legal authority to question anybody in relation to anything in the North . John Hermon drew up his terms of reference ; nonetheless , he picked his team of six , and ploughed away . But he found much resistance and silence , and ample evidence to charge dozens of RUC men with everything from obstruction to attempting to pervert the course of justice . There was also possibly murder charges. But the tape relating to the killing of Michael Tighe was outside his grasp - John Hermon refused to hand it over !
And just before Stalker was due to hear that tape for the first time , he was removed ; the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire , Colin Sampson , was appointed in his place . At that same time , Sampson was also appointed to investigate Stalker himself , as some alleged 'criminal connections' had been made . None transpired . ('1169...' comment - "No honour amongst thieves" is right ....).
(MORE LATER).
.......The issue which split the already weakened Clan na Gael organisation , the 1921 Treaty of Surrender , was , at first , supported by one of the main Irish-American leaders in the U.S. - Joseph McGarrity .......
Joseph McGarrity claimed that the 1921 Treaty confirmed that " Irelands sovereign Independence is acknowledged by the British Cabinet and their action is approved by Britain's King . This much is certain ." He verbally attacked those in America who doubted that the Treaty was a legitmate conclusion to the centuries of occupation because of , amongst other reasons , the clause demanding an Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown contained in it .
Those who raised the issue of the Oath were , said McGarrity , " doubters (who) were guilty of a despicable attempt to make it appear that the citizens of the Republic (sic) of Ireland are to give allegiance to (Britains) King George . "
McGarrity dismissed the Oath ( "supposed Oath" , as he called it) as " a very clever juggling with words " on the part of the British - he suggested that it was simply a face-saving exercise by the Brits " to give as little hurt to the British Ministers and to the King's pride as possible . "
McGarrity was , at this stage , 'in for a penny , in for a pound'- some of his comrades in America were doubtful about the 'benefits' of the 1921 Treaty , while others had already rejected it and still others were in support of it ; amongst the questions raised about the Treaty was one concerning the name of the new ('officially' Brit-free) State .......
(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 SLIPPERY ROCK .......
".......We were on our way home , through the fields and hills ; on coming-up from a hollow , we spied two British Army lorries heading straight for us ......."
" Now they were quite near us , and if we turned back we would be quite exposed to them . We ran towards the only cover , the two pillars of the gate of the field which we were in , and which opened on to the road almost opposite Yankee Lyons's gate .
Yankee's wife stood in her own gateway , and watched us make ourselves as small as possible behind the pillars while the lorries tore past to Ballyvourney with troops to search for the perpetrators of the Slippery Rock "outrage" .
The British Army lorries kept going and , as we passed by Mrs. Lyons , through the gateway , she murmured fervently - " The Lord save us , lads , the Lord save us ! "
[END of -' THE SLIPPERY ROCK .......'].
(Tomorrow - 'A HARVEST DAY IN 1920').
THE STALKING OF JOHN STALKER ;
Derek Dunne (journalist) traces the background to the 'STALKER AFFAIR' and details the weekend that JOHN STALKER flew to IRELAND as a hero .
(This article was first published in the 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , on 18th February 1988 , pages 14 , 15 and 16 ; we reproduce it here in 12 parts ....)
(7 of 12).
There was a political outcry over British 'Lord Justice' Gibson's remarks . The 'Irish Times' newspaper called for a reform of the system of justice ('1169...' comment.... that gives an indication of just how serious the situation was ; that particular newspaper was then , and still is today , an 'establishment' newspaper - be it Irish [ie Free State] or British establishment...) and the disbandment of what would be termed "death squads" in Latin America .
But by now it had become clear that the evidence prepared against those charged was less than satisfactory , and the Deputy Chief Constable of the Manchester Police , John Stalker , was appointed to investigate the killings . That was in May 1984 , and the Chief Constable , John Hermon , and the British Director of Public Prosecutions for the Six Counties , Barry Shaw , were starting to fight in public .
It is a curious anomaly that Mr. Stalker had no legal authority to question anybody in relation to anything in the North . John Hermon drew up his terms of reference ; nonetheless , he picked his team of six , and ploughed away . But he found much resistance and silence , and ample evidence to charge dozens of RUC men with everything from obstruction to attempting to pervert the course of justice . There was also possibly murder charges. But the tape relating to the killing of Michael Tighe was outside his grasp - John Hermon refused to hand it over !
And just before Stalker was due to hear that tape for the first time , he was removed ; the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire , Colin Sampson , was appointed in his place . At that same time , Sampson was also appointed to investigate Stalker himself , as some alleged 'criminal connections' had been made . None transpired . ('1169...' comment - "No honour amongst thieves" is right ....).
(MORE LATER).
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
The Irish-American 'GROWL' ; the 'AARIR'- 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic ' .......
.......Formed in November 1920 , the 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic' (the 'GROWL') was doing well , financially , for the IRA campaign in Ireland ; but - in December 1921 , the 'Treaty of Surrender' was to change that .......
The remnants of Clan na Gael (now dis-owned by the Republican Movement in Ireland), led by John Devoy , supported the pro-Treaty side (ie the Free Staters). But the Clan , already weak compared with what it used to be , was weakened further by this acceptance of the 1921 Treaty - a section of it left and called itself the 'Clan na Gael Reorganised' (or 'Clan na Gael and the IRA' , as it was perhaps better known ).
This 'Reorganised Clan' was led by Joseph McGarrity and Luke Dillon - the 1921 Treaty of Surrender was apparently the 'straw that broke the camels back '; McGarrity and John Devoy were said to be 'chalk and cheese' anyway , and did not get on well together . And , actually , Joseph McGarrity had at first promoted and supported the 1921 Treaty of Surrender ! In a statement at the time , McGarrity claimed that " Ireland's sovereign Independence is acknowledged by the British Cabinet and their action is approved by Britain's King . This much is certain ." (!)
Again , at that particular time , McGarrity was fulsome in his praise of that Treaty .......
(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 SLIPPERY ROCK .......
".......We gathered up the spoils of the ambush - guns , equipment and their bicycles . We left the British soldiers in as comfortable a position as we could ......."
" The British Officer , Lieutenant Sharman , had been killed outright . Four of his soldiers had been wounded , not badly . We were about to cycle home along the road to Clondrohid , as far as Drohidin Clia , then turn south for kilnamartyra , when our scouts reported lorries from that direction . We had to take the bicycles on our shoulders up the steep side of Cnoc an Uir .
We got away in that direction . John Harrington of Coolavokig was our first rest - he invited us in to tea , which we gladly accepted as we had not eaten since 7.30 am . We left John's house soon after tea , for it was a likely place for an early raid . We descended the sloping fields of Coolavokig , to cross the main Macroom-Ballyvourney Road at Yankee Lyons's gate . As we neared our crossing point we were in a slight hollow and for a minute or two lost sight of the road .
In that short time two British Army lorries from Macroom had turned the corner at Geata Ban , unknown to us at the time ....... "
(MORE LATER).
THE STALKING OF JOHN STALKER ;
Derek Dunne (journalist) traces the background to the 'STALKER AFFAIR' and details the weekend that JOHN STALKER flew to IRELAND as a hero .
(This article was first published in the 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , on 18th February 1988 , pages 14 , 15 and 16 ; we reproduce it here in 12 parts ....)
(6 of 12).
It came out in court that RUC member John Robinson was part of an elite SAS-trained RUC squad ; E4A . That squad were trained in "firepower , speed and aggression ." And members of the same squad had been involved in all six killings .
The following year (ie 1985) Sergeant William Montgomery , RUC 'Constables' David Brannigan and Frederick Robinson appeared before British 'Lord Justice' Gibson on a charge of killing Eugene Toman ; again , they were not charged with killing Sean Burns and Gervaise McKerr as they were found in the car , whereas Eugene Toman had made it as far as the ground . 'Lord Justice' Gibson acquitted all three Brit operatives .
Gibson actually commended the three RUC men for their " courage and determination in bringing the three deceased men to justice , in this case , the final court of justice ." It came out then that the three dead men had been 'tailed' for days , and that two of them were wanted on a murder charge . But no explanation was forthcoming as to why they were not arrested , rather than killed , if such was the case .
(MORE LATER).
.......Formed in November 1920 , the 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic' (the 'GROWL') was doing well , financially , for the IRA campaign in Ireland ; but - in December 1921 , the 'Treaty of Surrender' was to change that .......
The remnants of Clan na Gael (now dis-owned by the Republican Movement in Ireland), led by John Devoy , supported the pro-Treaty side (ie the Free Staters). But the Clan , already weak compared with what it used to be , was weakened further by this acceptance of the 1921 Treaty - a section of it left and called itself the 'Clan na Gael Reorganised' (or 'Clan na Gael and the IRA' , as it was perhaps better known ).
This 'Reorganised Clan' was led by Joseph McGarrity and Luke Dillon - the 1921 Treaty of Surrender was apparently the 'straw that broke the camels back '; McGarrity and John Devoy were said to be 'chalk and cheese' anyway , and did not get on well together . And , actually , Joseph McGarrity had at first promoted and supported the 1921 Treaty of Surrender ! In a statement at the time , McGarrity claimed that " Ireland's sovereign Independence is acknowledged by the British Cabinet and their action is approved by Britain's King . This much is certain ." (!)
Again , at that particular time , McGarrity was fulsome in his praise of that Treaty .......
(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 SLIPPERY ROCK .......
".......We gathered up the spoils of the ambush - guns , equipment and their bicycles . We left the British soldiers in as comfortable a position as we could ......."
" The British Officer , Lieutenant Sharman , had been killed outright . Four of his soldiers had been wounded , not badly . We were about to cycle home along the road to Clondrohid , as far as Drohidin Clia , then turn south for kilnamartyra , when our scouts reported lorries from that direction . We had to take the bicycles on our shoulders up the steep side of Cnoc an Uir .
We got away in that direction . John Harrington of Coolavokig was our first rest - he invited us in to tea , which we gladly accepted as we had not eaten since 7.30 am . We left John's house soon after tea , for it was a likely place for an early raid . We descended the sloping fields of Coolavokig , to cross the main Macroom-Ballyvourney Road at Yankee Lyons's gate . As we neared our crossing point we were in a slight hollow and for a minute or two lost sight of the road .
In that short time two British Army lorries from Macroom had turned the corner at Geata Ban , unknown to us at the time ....... "
(MORE LATER).
THE STALKING OF JOHN STALKER ;
Derek Dunne (journalist) traces the background to the 'STALKER AFFAIR' and details the weekend that JOHN STALKER flew to IRELAND as a hero .
(This article was first published in the 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , on 18th February 1988 , pages 14 , 15 and 16 ; we reproduce it here in 12 parts ....)
(6 of 12).
It came out in court that RUC member John Robinson was part of an elite SAS-trained RUC squad ; E4A . That squad were trained in "firepower , speed and aggression ." And members of the same squad had been involved in all six killings .
The following year (ie 1985) Sergeant William Montgomery , RUC 'Constables' David Brannigan and Frederick Robinson appeared before British 'Lord Justice' Gibson on a charge of killing Eugene Toman ; again , they were not charged with killing Sean Burns and Gervaise McKerr as they were found in the car , whereas Eugene Toman had made it as far as the ground . 'Lord Justice' Gibson acquitted all three Brit operatives .
Gibson actually commended the three RUC men for their " courage and determination in bringing the three deceased men to justice , in this case , the final court of justice ." It came out then that the three dead men had been 'tailed' for days , and that two of them were wanted on a murder charge . But no explanation was forthcoming as to why they were not arrested , rather than killed , if such was the case .
(MORE LATER).
Monday, April 12, 2004
The Irish-American 'GROWL' ; the 'AARIR'- 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic ' .......
....... November 1920 ; under direction from the leadership of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland , the Clan na Gael organisation was disbanded . The 'Friends Of Irish Freedom' group also suffered because of that directive . A new organisation was established - the 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic' - 'AARIR' (or 'GROWL' , because of its acronym).......
Eamon de Valera was back in Ireland by December that year (ie 1920), but had left his mark in America ; the publicity generated by the fall-out between the Clan na Gael and Friends Of Irish Freedom organisations , and the establishment of the new 'AARIR' group had put the Irish situation back on 'Page One' - it was a hot topic again .
The Brits were , of course, watching every move - they realised that the millions of Irish people in America , with their sympathy , support and money for an armed campaign in Ireland , plus good support amongst the Irish population in England itself for an armed campaign , was perhaps more than they could successfully counter in the short-term ; they were losing the propaganda war . A willingness to hold truce talks with the Irish Rebels was signalled , which led to the 'Treaty Of Surrender' in December 1921 .
Thirteen months after it was formed (ie November 1920 - December 1921) , the 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic' was thrown into disarray because of the 'Treaty of Surrender' ; splits and divisions loomed - " divide and conquer ......."
(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 SLIPPERY ROCK .......
".......The ambush was over ; the British Army Officer in charge of the patrol was dead . His men had surrendered to us , and we were rounding them up and taking what weapon's they had . I stood over a Brit soldier I had shot at - his rifle was still beside him . His face was to the ground ......."
" I caught him by the shoulder and called out " Hallo ! " ; no reply . I thought him dead . My left hand grasping his right shoulder , I rolled him over . A fresh smiling face looked up at me out of humorous eyes : " I thought you were dead " , I said . "No" , he replied lazily . " You are wounded , then , or ought to be . " " I don't think so , " was his reply .
I opened his tunic , button by button . Not a scratch on him . " I am very glad indeed , " I said . " Thanks " , he said , smiling . The two bullets fired at him had torn deeply into the road under him as he lay . He had been lucky to escape the worst kind of wound . I caught another British soldier by the shoulder as he lay face down on the grass of the northern dyke . He rolled over and put up his hands , saying - " Paddy , don't shoot ! " " We won't harm you now , " I replied . He unbuckled his equipment and handed it to me . I picked up his rifle and replaced it on his bicycle , with his steel cap and trench equipment . I saw Mick the Soldier do the same .
We had already settled on cycling home ; a wounded British soldier asked me for a cigarette . I had not a single one . I assured him I would get one for him . I tried all our own lads - no cigarettes . Neither had any British soldier got one ; I could do nothing but tell him how sorry I was . "
(MORE LATER).
THE STALKING OF JOHN STALKER ;
Derek Dunne (journalist) traces the background to the 'STALKER AFFAIR' and details the weekend that JOHN STALKER flew to IRELAND as a hero .
(This article was first published in the 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , on 18th February 1988 , pages 14 , 15 and 16 ; we reproduce it here in 12 parts ....)
(5 of 12).
The killing of Seamus Grew and Roddy Carroll brought to more than one-hundred-and-sixty the number of unarmed civilians who had been killed by the UDR , RUC and British Army in circumstances which suggested they were murdered . In that twelve-year period (ie 1970 - 1982) no-one had been charged with murder . But there were such grave irregularities in the RUC files on these six killings that it was difficult to ignore them . Inquests could not be held until criminal proceedings were completed .
The Chief Constable of the RUC had complete confidence in his men . The criticism of his force from Catholic priests and community leaders was starting to build up . In January 1984 , more than a year after the six killings , he said - " Of course there is anti-police feeling in the province (sic) , inevitable when there are the political affiliations that we have here . We are responsibly reported in the media , with the only sniping coming from fringe elements that don't cause us any concern and which the community as a whole sees to be superficial . There are not many fools in Northern Ireland (sic) . The RUC are quite extraordinary men , doing quite an extraordinary job . "
In April 1984 , RUC man John Robinson was charged with the murder of Seamus Grew . He was acquitted by Mr. 'Justice' McDermott , who considered that he had used reasonable force in the circumstances . The reason he had been charged with the killing of Seamus Grew only , and not of both Grew and Roddy Carroll , was that Seamus Grew was found outside the car , which meant that he had lived and was shot on the ground . Those circumstances were " the general wartime situation in Northern Ireland " (sic) , said the good 'Justice' .
RUC man Robinson was commended for his sharpshooting by 'Justice' McDermott ! But other rocks were turned over in court also.......
(MORE LATER).
....... November 1920 ; under direction from the leadership of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland , the Clan na Gael organisation was disbanded . The 'Friends Of Irish Freedom' group also suffered because of that directive . A new organisation was established - the 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic' - 'AARIR' (or 'GROWL' , because of its acronym).......
Eamon de Valera was back in Ireland by December that year (ie 1920), but had left his mark in America ; the publicity generated by the fall-out between the Clan na Gael and Friends Of Irish Freedom organisations , and the establishment of the new 'AARIR' group had put the Irish situation back on 'Page One' - it was a hot topic again .
The Brits were , of course, watching every move - they realised that the millions of Irish people in America , with their sympathy , support and money for an armed campaign in Ireland , plus good support amongst the Irish population in England itself for an armed campaign , was perhaps more than they could successfully counter in the short-term ; they were losing the propaganda war . A willingness to hold truce talks with the Irish Rebels was signalled , which led to the 'Treaty Of Surrender' in December 1921 .
Thirteen months after it was formed (ie November 1920 - December 1921) , the 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic' was thrown into disarray because of the 'Treaty of Surrender' ; splits and divisions loomed - " divide and conquer ......."
(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 SLIPPERY ROCK .......
".......The ambush was over ; the British Army Officer in charge of the patrol was dead . His men had surrendered to us , and we were rounding them up and taking what weapon's they had . I stood over a Brit soldier I had shot at - his rifle was still beside him . His face was to the ground ......."
" I caught him by the shoulder and called out " Hallo ! " ; no reply . I thought him dead . My left hand grasping his right shoulder , I rolled him over . A fresh smiling face looked up at me out of humorous eyes : " I thought you were dead " , I said . "No" , he replied lazily . " You are wounded , then , or ought to be . " " I don't think so , " was his reply .
I opened his tunic , button by button . Not a scratch on him . " I am very glad indeed , " I said . " Thanks " , he said , smiling . The two bullets fired at him had torn deeply into the road under him as he lay . He had been lucky to escape the worst kind of wound . I caught another British soldier by the shoulder as he lay face down on the grass of the northern dyke . He rolled over and put up his hands , saying - " Paddy , don't shoot ! " " We won't harm you now , " I replied . He unbuckled his equipment and handed it to me . I picked up his rifle and replaced it on his bicycle , with his steel cap and trench equipment . I saw Mick the Soldier do the same .
We had already settled on cycling home ; a wounded British soldier asked me for a cigarette . I had not a single one . I assured him I would get one for him . I tried all our own lads - no cigarettes . Neither had any British soldier got one ; I could do nothing but tell him how sorry I was . "
(MORE LATER).
THE STALKING OF JOHN STALKER ;
Derek Dunne (journalist) traces the background to the 'STALKER AFFAIR' and details the weekend that JOHN STALKER flew to IRELAND as a hero .
(This article was first published in the 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , on 18th February 1988 , pages 14 , 15 and 16 ; we reproduce it here in 12 parts ....)
(5 of 12).
The killing of Seamus Grew and Roddy Carroll brought to more than one-hundred-and-sixty the number of unarmed civilians who had been killed by the UDR , RUC and British Army in circumstances which suggested they were murdered . In that twelve-year period (ie 1970 - 1982) no-one had been charged with murder . But there were such grave irregularities in the RUC files on these six killings that it was difficult to ignore them . Inquests could not be held until criminal proceedings were completed .
The Chief Constable of the RUC had complete confidence in his men . The criticism of his force from Catholic priests and community leaders was starting to build up . In January 1984 , more than a year after the six killings , he said - " Of course there is anti-police feeling in the province (sic) , inevitable when there are the political affiliations that we have here . We are responsibly reported in the media , with the only sniping coming from fringe elements that don't cause us any concern and which the community as a whole sees to be superficial . There are not many fools in Northern Ireland (sic) . The RUC are quite extraordinary men , doing quite an extraordinary job . "
In April 1984 , RUC man John Robinson was charged with the murder of Seamus Grew . He was acquitted by Mr. 'Justice' McDermott , who considered that he had used reasonable force in the circumstances . The reason he had been charged with the killing of Seamus Grew only , and not of both Grew and Roddy Carroll , was that Seamus Grew was found outside the car , which meant that he had lived and was shot on the ground . Those circumstances were " the general wartime situation in Northern Ireland " (sic) , said the good 'Justice' .
RUC man Robinson was commended for his sharpshooting by 'Justice' McDermott ! But other rocks were turned over in court also.......
(MORE LATER).
Sunday, April 11, 2004
The Irish-American 'GROWL' ; the 'AARIR'- 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic ' .......
.......The dispute between the Clan na Gael organisation and the Friends Of Irish Freedom group was now over , with the FOIF resolution (ie 'gentle prodding') winning out in the end . But the dispute had been noticed by the Irish Republican Brotherhood leadership in Ireland .......
As stated here previously , the American Clan na Gael organisation recognised the Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood as the Government of the (all-Ireland) Irish Republic so , when , within weeks of the Clan / FOIF dispute , an order came from the leadership of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland directing the Clan na Gael group "to stand down" , it obeyed - but under protest .
Without the support of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland , both the Clan and the FOIF were severely weakened and could not now claim to be linked to the Republican Movement in Ireland .
In November 1920 , Eamon de Valera (and other leadership figures in Ireland) set-up a new organisation - the 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic' ; known as 'GROWL' , because of the sound of its acronym , 'AARIR' . With the backing and promotion of the IRB leadership , and the support in America of figures such as Joseph McGarrity , the 'AARIR' was successful , and raised thousands of dollars for the then IRA in Ireland.
(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 SLIPPERY ROCK .......
"....... The British patrol were now within thirty yards of us . We watched as Paddy Donncha Eoin got to his feet , with a revolver in his hand ......."
" Paddy called on them to surrender ; the British Army Officer looked back over his left shoulder . He said nothing , but stood-up on his push-bike pedals and threw his weight down on them , put his head down and rode forward . All his men did likewise . There was no doubt about their intention - it was to break through our ranks . A revolver barked and a volley rang our - the Brit Officer fell but his men cycled on ; I jumped to my feet - we had been lying against the sloping face of the hillock . As I rose , a rifle exploded close to my left ear , almost knocking me down again . It was 'Mick the Soldier' , who had risen before me and had fired across my back at some of the British soldiers who were almost abreast of us . We stepped out on the road .
There was another burst of rifle fire ; we saw a British soldier lying in the dust , half way down the road . He lay quite flat , his heels turned inwards , and he was engaged in releasing rapid fire upwards at the top of the Slippery Rock . We fired simultaneously at him - both bullets struck a foot apart under his body and raised a column of dust , which gave me the impression that we had cut his body in two ; he let his rifle drop . Then there came silence ...
Our lads were coming out on the road . I walked past Jamie , Con Sean Jer and Ned Micky Sweeney as they disarmed a group of British soldiers . One of the Brits struggled with Ned Sweeney to retain his rifle , but Ned wrenched it from him . I came to the man whom we had last fired at - he lay in exactly the same position , with his left hand stretched in the firing posture and his right hand down on the road near the small of the rifle-butt . The rifle lay with a cartridge half thrust forward into the breech .
His face was to the ground ....."
(MORE LATER).
THE STALKING OF JOHN STALKER ;
Derek Dunne (journalist) traces the background to the 'STALKER AFFAIR' and details the weekend that JOHN STALKER flew to IRELAND as a hero .
(This article was first published in the 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , on 18th February 1988 , pages 14 , 15 and 16 ; we reproduce it here in 12 parts ....)
(4 of 12).
The third incident was eighteen days later . It was just about 8.30pm on 12th December 1982 when 'Irish National Liberation Army' (INLA) member Seamus Grew drove his Allegro car up towards his home at Mullacreevie Park in Armagh City . He had just been into the Free State for a funeral . Roddy Carroll , another INLA man , was sitting in the passenger seat . Driving along , Seamus Grew recognised a neighbour , Joseph Graham , and he waved to him . Another car suddenly came up very fast behind Grew's car and pulled up in front of it . There were at least two men in it .
Then the shooting started ; it was like a "cracking noise" , according to Joseph Graham . It stopped , and then it started again . On either side of the road , the RUC were patrolling the fields , and there was an RUC car blocking off the bottom of the hill . It was a closed-off area . The RUC decided to lie once more ...
They put out the story that Seamus Grew had driven through a road-block , injuring an RUC man , and that they were then forced to fire on the car . They changed that story later . What had actually happened was that the RUC had followed Grew into the Free State , but he had somehow managed to avoid a road-block on his way back up to the North . Further up the road , an undercover British Army car and an undercover RUC car were involved in an accident and , in the ensuing mess , Seamus Grew drove through undetected . The RUC man following Grew saw the accident , picked up RUC man John Robinson , passed the Allegro and halted it .
RUC man Robinson then got out of his car , fired fifteen times at Roddy Carroll , walked around the car , re-loaded his gun , and shot Seamus Grew four times . Robinson was driven from the scene immediately by an RUC Special Branch Inspector ....
(MORE LATER).
.......The dispute between the Clan na Gael organisation and the Friends Of Irish Freedom group was now over , with the FOIF resolution (ie 'gentle prodding') winning out in the end . But the dispute had been noticed by the Irish Republican Brotherhood leadership in Ireland .......
As stated here previously , the American Clan na Gael organisation recognised the Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood as the Government of the (all-Ireland) Irish Republic so , when , within weeks of the Clan / FOIF dispute , an order came from the leadership of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland directing the Clan na Gael group "to stand down" , it obeyed - but under protest .
Without the support of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland , both the Clan and the FOIF were severely weakened and could not now claim to be linked to the Republican Movement in Ireland .
In November 1920 , Eamon de Valera (and other leadership figures in Ireland) set-up a new organisation - the 'American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic' ; known as 'GROWL' , because of the sound of its acronym , 'AARIR' . With the backing and promotion of the IRB leadership , and the support in America of figures such as Joseph McGarrity , the 'AARIR' was successful , and raised thousands of dollars for the then IRA in Ireland.
(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 SLIPPERY ROCK .......
"....... The British patrol were now within thirty yards of us . We watched as Paddy Donncha Eoin got to his feet , with a revolver in his hand ......."
" Paddy called on them to surrender ; the British Army Officer looked back over his left shoulder . He said nothing , but stood-up on his push-bike pedals and threw his weight down on them , put his head down and rode forward . All his men did likewise . There was no doubt about their intention - it was to break through our ranks . A revolver barked and a volley rang our - the Brit Officer fell but his men cycled on ; I jumped to my feet - we had been lying against the sloping face of the hillock . As I rose , a rifle exploded close to my left ear , almost knocking me down again . It was 'Mick the Soldier' , who had risen before me and had fired across my back at some of the British soldiers who were almost abreast of us . We stepped out on the road .
There was another burst of rifle fire ; we saw a British soldier lying in the dust , half way down the road . He lay quite flat , his heels turned inwards , and he was engaged in releasing rapid fire upwards at the top of the Slippery Rock . We fired simultaneously at him - both bullets struck a foot apart under his body and raised a column of dust , which gave me the impression that we had cut his body in two ; he let his rifle drop . Then there came silence ...
Our lads were coming out on the road . I walked past Jamie , Con Sean Jer and Ned Micky Sweeney as they disarmed a group of British soldiers . One of the Brits struggled with Ned Sweeney to retain his rifle , but Ned wrenched it from him . I came to the man whom we had last fired at - he lay in exactly the same position , with his left hand stretched in the firing posture and his right hand down on the road near the small of the rifle-butt . The rifle lay with a cartridge half thrust forward into the breech .
His face was to the ground ....."
(MORE LATER).
THE STALKING OF JOHN STALKER ;
Derek Dunne (journalist) traces the background to the 'STALKER AFFAIR' and details the weekend that JOHN STALKER flew to IRELAND as a hero .
(This article was first published in the 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , on 18th February 1988 , pages 14 , 15 and 16 ; we reproduce it here in 12 parts ....)
(4 of 12).
The third incident was eighteen days later . It was just about 8.30pm on 12th December 1982 when 'Irish National Liberation Army' (INLA) member Seamus Grew drove his Allegro car up towards his home at Mullacreevie Park in Armagh City . He had just been into the Free State for a funeral . Roddy Carroll , another INLA man , was sitting in the passenger seat . Driving along , Seamus Grew recognised a neighbour , Joseph Graham , and he waved to him . Another car suddenly came up very fast behind Grew's car and pulled up in front of it . There were at least two men in it .
Then the shooting started ; it was like a "cracking noise" , according to Joseph Graham . It stopped , and then it started again . On either side of the road , the RUC were patrolling the fields , and there was an RUC car blocking off the bottom of the hill . It was a closed-off area . The RUC decided to lie once more ...
They put out the story that Seamus Grew had driven through a road-block , injuring an RUC man , and that they were then forced to fire on the car . They changed that story later . What had actually happened was that the RUC had followed Grew into the Free State , but he had somehow managed to avoid a road-block on his way back up to the North . Further up the road , an undercover British Army car and an undercover RUC car were involved in an accident and , in the ensuing mess , Seamus Grew drove through undetected . The RUC man following Grew saw the accident , picked up RUC man John Robinson , passed the Allegro and halted it .
RUC man Robinson then got out of his car , fired fifteen times at Roddy Carroll , walked around the car , re-loaded his gun , and shot Seamus Grew four times . Robinson was driven from the scene immediately by an RUC Special Branch Inspector ....
(MORE LATER).
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