ANNUAL WOLFE TONE COMMEMORATION,SUNDAY JUNE 10, 2007 .



A bus for this Commemoration , which is organised each year by the Republican Movement , will leave from outside the old McBirneys/Virgin Megastore site on Dublin's Aston Quay at 12.45PM on the day , and return to Dublin at 5.30PM.

The fare is ten Euro per person .

For information on the death of Wolfe Tone , scroll through this piece (article starts on March 9 on that page) which was published on this blog two years ago .
" From my earliest youth I have regarded the connection between Great Britain and Ireland as the curse of the Irish nation , and felt convinced that , while it lasted , this country could never be free nor happy . My mind has been confirmed in this opinion by the experience of every succeeding year , and the conclusions which I have drawn from every fact before my eyes . In consequence , I was determined to employ all the powers which my individual efforts could move , in order to separate the two countries .
That Ireland was not able of herself to throw off the yoke , I knew ; I therefore sought for aid wherever it was to be found . In honourable poverty I rejected offers which , to a man in my circumstances , might be considered highly advantageous . I remained faithful to what I thought the cause of my country , and sought in the French Republic an ally to rescue three millions of my countrymen " . -Theobald Wolfe Tone .

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BRITISH PUBLICITY EXPERT / WOMEN'S GHETTO / A ROUGH BEAST .

'BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH TO HAVE PUBLICITY EXPERT'
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

The British Army in Occupied Ireland is to have a public relations expert . He is a Mr. A. A. McLoughlin of Leigh-on-Sea , Essex , and he takes up duty this month . He spent December at the War Office in London being briefed on all aspects of his job in Occupied Ireland . Mr. McLoughlin was a Major in the British Army , serving with the 6th Airborne Division .

In 1945 he was seconded to S.H.A.E.F. Military Mission in Denmark and , after the war , he became information officer to the Advertising Association of Great Britain.

[END of 'BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH TO HAVE PUBLICITY EXPERT']
(Next - ' LAW AND ORDER IN OCCUPIED IRELAND' : from the same source.)


OUT OF THE WOMEN'S GHETTO .......

By INEZ McCORMICK.
A review of Margaret Ward's book - 'Unmanageable Revolutionaries:Women and Irish Nationalism' .
From 'FORTNIGHT' magazine , October 1983.

We have Andrew Kettle saying of Anna Parnell that "...she had a better knowledge of the social and political forces of Ireland than any person , man or woman , I have ever met . She would have worked the Land League revolution to a much better conclusion than her great brother ."

From the point of view of the men involved , the women's organisational and analytical potential was threatening and dangerous . As the author puts it , the women 'redefined resistance itself' . With evident relief the men forced the dissolution of the Ladies League in a sordid authoritarian manner , and then promptly rewrote history to trivalise and marginalise the role women had played .

Anna Parnell lived under an assumed name , died destitute and no member of her family attended her funeral : you will find no square named after her in Dublin or elsewhere . Yet the most important figure in this book from the point of view of contemporary reference is Hannah Sheehy Skeffington - she insisted that women's rights were a central part of the struggle and the revolution would be incomplete if they were set aside , however temporarily.......
(MORE LATER).



WHAT ROUGH BEAST IS THIS , ITS HOUR COME ROUND AT LAST.......?

By JOHN WATERS.
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine, 'Election Special' , 1987.

Charles J. Haughey is not the kind of man you would choose to bring along on your holidays : his is an uneasy presence , there is a constant tension about him which is probably partly explained by his traumatic history and partly is due to his ambition . He wants to be 'Top Dog' , in the larger sense and in the smaller . All but the most superficial of encounters with him have this element of friction about them . His whole life is a mind game in which he tries to score points off pretty much everybody he comes in contact with .

He will lead you into situations in which he can put you down , make you feel small with little sarcastic asides and other devices - the encounter with 'The Sunday Times' journalist is a typical example . Once the parameters have been established , however , he will pick you up and is capable of being almost charming . Just so long as you know who's 'boss....' ! The man's personal political machine operates as a reign of terror - all his aides are afraid of their lives of him and will do almost anything to avoid his wrath .

In a Dublin shopping centre last week a little girl asked him for ballons . There had been some around earlier but they had all been given away . Haughey's aides looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders . Haughey clicked his fingers and said - " Balloons . Now . Get some . Find some . Steal some . Now . Balloons . " An estimated twenty people were killed in the rush ! He frequently does such things in public , showing up even his most loyal henchmen - his 'abrasive' (the usual euphemism) personality is undoubtedly in part attributable to the dichotomy which his position demands that he be ('1169...' Comment - ....or , more likely , to that which Haughey believed his elevated position demanded.).......
(MORE LATER).

(Thank You , M. O'R , for that message - much appreciated ! Sharon.)

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BODENSTOWN SUNDAY , JUNE 10th , 2007.......




ANNUAL WOLFE TONE COMMEMORATION :
Sunday , June 10 , 2007 , Sallins , Co. Kildare .

A bus for this Commemoration , which is organised each year by the Republican Movement , will leave from outside the old McBirneys/Virgin Megastore site on Dublin's Aston Quay at 12.45PM on the day , and return to Dublin at 5.30PM.

The fare is ten Euro per person .

For information on the death of Wolfe Tone , scroll through this piece (article starts on March 9 on that page) which was published on this blog two years ago .
" From my earliest youth I have regarded the connection between Great Britain and Ireland as the curse of the Irish nation , and felt convinced that , while it lasted , this country could never be free nor happy . My mind has been confirmed in this opinion by the experience of every succeeding year , and the conclusions which I have drawn from every fact before my eyes . In consequence , I was determined to employ all the powers which my individual efforts could move , in order to separate the two countries .
That Ireland was not able of herself to throw off the yoke , I knew ; I therefore sought for aid wherever it was to be found . In honourable poverty I rejected offers which , to a man in my circumstances , might be considered highly advantageous . I remained faithful to what I thought the cause of my country , and sought in the French Republic an ally to rescue three millions of my countrymen " . -Theobald Wolfe Tone .

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KEVIN BOLAND / WOMEN'S GHETTO / A ROUGH BEAST .

'MR BOLAND IS ASKED TO EXPLAIN'
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

The 26-County Minister For Defence , Mr Kevin Boland, refused permission for Mr Rory Brady , the Sinn Fein TD for Longford-Westmeath who is held in the Curragh Concentration Camp, to consult his solicitor .

This information was given to Roscommon County Council and the Council again asked Mr. Boland to seek legal advice on his suspension and his threatened dismissal from his post as a teacher at Roscommon Vocational School.

Mr D. O' Rourke said he did not see what harm it would do to Kevin Boland , the State or any one else to give that permission . In his written reply to the Council , Mr Boland said they could rest assured the decision had "...not been taken lightly.." . Mr P. A. McGuinness said he was quite sure that Mr. Boland had given more consideration to his reply than he had to Mr. Brady's request . He called The Offences Against The State Act " ..diabolical.."
[END of 'MR BOLAND IS ASKED TO EXPLAIN']
(Next - ' British Army In North To Have Publicity Expert' : from the same source)



OUT OF THE WOMEN'S GHETTO .......

By INEZ McCORMICK.
A review of Margaret Ward's book - 'Unmanageable Revolutionaries:Women and Irish Nationalism' .
From 'FORTNIGHT' magazine , October 1983.

Paradoxically , men who were prepared to fight the might of British imperialism were not prepared to face their own imperialism , which they used in sordid and brutal ways to force women to postpone consideration of their own demands . Through moral blackmail , women were made to feel guilty and selfish about seeking recognition of their own rights , and were forced to abandon them and driven back to the ghetto of chimney corner and kitchen .

It is not surprising therefore that the struggle for independence , relying upon such a parent , gave birth to such a monstrosity . This book pursues this analysis through consideration of the development and fate of three women's organisations : The Ladies Land League, Inghinidhe na hEireann and Cumann na mBan. While they were originally women's equivalents of existing organisations , they developed novel strategies and could have enlarged the meaning of revolutionary struggle to encompass the whole population and not just the adult male portion of it .

Most historians would pass by the Ladies Land League with hardly a glance . Miles of text have been consumed on Mrs O' Shea (the woman cast in one of her traditional roles as siren , temptress and ultimate frivolous and fatal diversion) . Few , except the professional historian , will have heard of Anna Parnell.......
(MORE LATER).



WHAT ROUGH BEAST IS THIS , ITS HOUR COME ROUND AT LAST.......?

By JOHN WATERS.
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine, 'Election Special' , 1987.

If you were to believe half of what is said and written about Charles J. Haughey you would conclude that this man is the greatest leader in the country's (sic) history ; if you believed the other half you would imagine that what we have here is the greatest bastard ever to break bread !

It's an old cliche to remark on how Charlie Haughey provokes extremes of reaction , but old cliches are often the best kind . In the Cavan-Monaghan constituency on the day I watched him being mauled and kissed by women of all ages , I watched old men who , by the looks of them , had barely enough money to feed themselves , shoving pound notes into his hand . On the other hand , there is the story about the chef in a certain hotel in the south-east of Ireland who , so great was his aversion to Haughey , that , whenever 'the Boss' dropped in for a meal , would do unmentionable things to the steak before serving it up to him...

Smug people . He hates smug people . People who think they know it all . So he told me in 1984 when I did an interview with him for 'Hot Press' magazine. He lies in wait for such people at all times . Let us proceed , therefore , with great caution.......
(MORE LATER).

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WOLFE TONE COMMEMORATION , SUNDAY JUNE 10 , 2007:



ANNUAL WOLFE TONE COMMEMORATION :
Sunday , June 10 , 2007 , Sallins , Co. Kildare .

A bus for this Commemoration , which is organised each year by the Republican Movement , will leave from outside the old McBirneys/Virgin Megastore site on Dublin's Aston Quay at 12.45PM on the day , and return to Dublin at 5.30PM.

The fare is ten Euro per person .

For information on the death of Wolfe Tone , scroll through this piece (article starts on March 9 on that page) which was published on this blog two years ago .
" From my earliest youth I have regarded the connection between Great Britain and Ireland as the curse of the Irish nation , and felt convinced that , while it lasted , this country could never be free nor happy . My mind has been confirmed in this opinion by the experience of every succeeding year , and the conclusions which I have drawn from every fact before my eyes . In consequence , I was determined to employ all the powers which my individual efforts could move , in order to separate the two countries .
That Ireland was not able of herself to throw off the yoke , I knew ; I therefore sought for aid wherever it was to be found . In honourable poverty I rejected offers which , to a man in my circumstances , might be considered highly advantageous . I remained faithful to what I thought the cause of my country , and sought in the French Republic an ally to rescue three millions of my countrymen " . -Theobald Wolfe Tone .

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MOUNTJOY PRISONERS / WOMEN'S GHETTO / A ROUGH BEAST.

'PRISONERS ON BREAD AND TEA IN MOUNTJOY' .......
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

Liam Gleeson told the Court - " We are not ashamed of our actions and activities that are the causes of our being here today - indeed we consider it a great honour and a great privilege to have tried in some small way to free our country of the Imperial forces of occupation. We are sorry that we are being tried by fellow-Irishmen . We think it a great tragedy , Irishmen putting Irishmen behind bars and England laughs at us ." ('1169...' Comment ....now we have Irishmen calling on other Irishmen to report political objectors to the British police!)

" We have been sentenced for unlawful possession of arms . We don't think it an unlawful act to use arms against our enemy , England . We don't require 'Firearms Certificates' to fire on members of the forces of occupation in the Six Counties . We are not breaking the peace , we are attempting to restore peace - a just peace based on justice for everyone . England has broken every pact and treaty we made with them . They have no word , they have no honour , when dealing with us . They have shown an utter disregard for the continued demand of the Irish people for freedom .

But there is one thing they fear and dread - young Irishmen with guns in their hands ready to fight for the freedom they demand ."

[END of ''PRISONERS ON BREAD AND TEA IN MOUNTJOY']
(NEXT : 'MR. BOLAND IS ASKED TO EXPLAIN' : from the same source)



OUT OF THE WOMEN'S GHETTO .......

By INEZ McCORMICK.
A review of Margaret Ward's book - 'Unmanageable Revolutionaries:Women and Irish Nationalism' .
From 'FORTNIGHT' magazine , October 1983.

If women were not prepared to subordinate themselves totally to a definition of the revolutionary struggle they had no part in shaping , they were classed as diversionary , divisive , or just plain silly .

The theme of the book is summed up by the author's assertion that feminists were criticised for 'putting the interests of their sex before that of the nation.' No contemporary feminist can miss the parallel with their own frustration in getting male organisations to recognise the need to give parity to women's issues . The book provides an illuminating reversal of the usual stereotype of women's political orientation and activity . When offered the opportunity , women threw themselves into the revolutionary struggle , shared the sacrifice and the danger , and provided a radical analysis based upon their own experience which deepened the struggle , redefining and enlarging it .

Yet men who called themselves revolutionary felt themselves threatened by this . Their vision was too narrow to comprehend the importance of the women's issue ; and their innate conservatism and dominance allowed them to make women toe the line , or even to disband their organisations . The book , in short , is an account of potential unrecognised talents and of talents abused.......
(MORE LATER).



WHAT ROUGH BEAST IS THIS , ITS HOUR COME ROUND AT LAST.......?

By JOHN WATERS.
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine, 'Election Special' , 1987.

There are varying opinions as to whether Charles J. Haughey's suspicion of the press is the chicken or the egg , but either way it will always be with us . Most journalists have by now developed their own individual ways of handling it - some opt for confrontation , most for sycophancy . But there will always be the newcomer who will rush right in as though this were some kind of regular politician . At times like this you tend to feel a tinge of sympathy even if the guy does work for 'The Sunday Times' !

All this makes writing about Charlie Haughey a fairly hazardous business : Dublin is a small town and sooner or later you are going to run into the rough edge of his tongue . Many journalists have already learned this lesson and in this campaign there has been a noticeable reluctance on the part of most to get into an eyeball-to-eyeball situation with 'The Boss'. Vincent Browne tried it at the launch of the Fianna Fail manifesto and was , incredibly , shouted down and 'shushed' by other hacks in the room !

There is another reason why it is dangerous to write about Charles Haughey and it is that pretty much nobody knows anything of any great substance about what he is really like . This may probably be because this is the way Charles J. Haughey likes it or it may be because there is little of any great substance behind the myth of this man.......
(MORE LATER).

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