THE DOGS OF FIONN ...


" It was a time of trouble-executions,
Death, searches, nightly firing, balked escapes –
And I sat silent while my cellmate figured
Ruy Lopez' Gambit from the 'Praxis'. Silence
Best fitted our mood: we seldom spoke.
'I have a thought,' he said, tilting his stool.
'We prisoners are so many pieces taken,
Swept from the chessboard, only used again
When a new game is started.' 'There's that hope,'
I said, 'the hope of being used again.
Some day of strength, when ploughs are out in March,
The dogs of Fionn will slip their iron chains
And, heedless of torn wounds and failing wind,
Will run the old grey wolf to death at last'.
He smiled, 'I like your image. My fat kings,
And painted Queens, and purple-cassocked Bishops
Are tame, indeed, beside your angry dogs! "
(....taken from here.)

- Written by Joseph Campbell, interned in the Curragh, 1923-24.


Read the above , follow the links and read what they offer . Then , read this link and see if you can help.......
Go raibh máith agat , from the '1169...' Crew .

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PARTITION/WOMEN'S GHETTO/A ROUGH BEAST.


'THE QUESTION OF PARTITION' .
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

" The question of Partition is , of course , a burning political issue which can be determined only by democratic action , " states Arthur G. Bottomley, British Labour M.P. , writing in 'The Belfast Telegraph' newspaper on December 4th , 1957 .

" The ultimate decision on Partition , " he continues , " rests with the Irish people themselves , who will determine this issue by their votes in the ballot-box . " Fair enough , Mr. Bottomley . Now ask your Government why they don't allow us "...to determine this issue by (our votes in) the ballot box.." ? To satisfy his Tory-Unionist hosts no doubt , Mr. Bottomley adds this rider :

" Certainly United Kingdom public opinion would not support a policy which was for taking the initiative in urging the people of Northern Ireland (sic) to leave the United Kingdom and through this the Commonwealth of Nations ." Isn't that a contradiction , Mr. Bottomley ?
[END of 'THE QUESTION OF PARTITION']
(Next : 'The True Position 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.

This book's lesson is that women's issues can easily be pushed to the sidelines , and women's rights , once won , have to be constantly protected , used and extended or they will be eroded . Let women organise anything and it will be ignored by most men . Yet , if successful , it will be taken over by them and the history of its origins rewritten .

There is nothing more calculated to drive men off in search of refreshment than a discussion of 'the women question' that does not threaten male power . Once it does , they queue up at the platform to speak on it , pledge undying support for women's rights , lecture women on how best to get them - and then cast their votes for the maintenance of male privilege and power .
[END of 'OUT OF THE WOMEN'S GHETTO']
(Next : 'A Day At The Rent Court' - from the same source)


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

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

There are a lot of good things about Charlie Haughey : there's his record as a minister in various departments over the years , for example . ('1169...' Comment : Whatever 'good things' the man done were placed in the shade by the man himself by virture of how he used those "various departments" to further his own enrichment.)

Haughey is into populism and patronage not ideology , but he never forgot that he came from the wrong side of the tracks . But also , on a personal level , on the odd occasion when he lets his guard slip , there is the faintest inkling that behind the facade there is , just possibly , something approaching a heart of gold . ('1169...' Comment : It's verbal clap-trap like this that explains why the Haughey's of this corrupt Statelet can plunder as they do - journalists , for the most part , are no threat to them.) He quite often shows signs of genuine warmth when he is with people he likes and trusts .

You could see , for example , on the election campaign trial , that he has a lot more time for Dr. John O'Connell than he has for Seamus Brennan: he has also shown himself to have some sense of objective morality in public life , as evidenced by his response to the Belgrano sinking, something which could not be said of by any means of every Irish politician at that time ('1169...' Comment : .....a classic opportunity for Haughey to play 'the Green Card' , which he duly did . However , some journalists were fooled...).......
(MORE LATER).

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APPEAL FOR FUNDS.......


Republican Sinn Fein are embarking on a development and modernisation programme for their organisation which will include advances in recruitment , publicity , upgrading of technology and improved Office accomodation .

This will cost a considerable amount of money , which RSF haven't got , necessitating this financial appeal . All subscriptions , large or small , can be sent to the treasurer of the Republican Sinn Fein Development Fund at Head Office , 223 Parnell Street , Dublin 1 , or made payable to -

Republican Sinn Fein Development Fund ,
Allied Irish Bank ,
Capel Street ,
Dublin 1.
Account Number 15411-097.

All donations will be appreciated and acknowledged.
Go raibh máith agat !
Sharon.

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LAW AND ORDER/WOMEN'S GHETTO/A ROUGH BEAST.

'LAW AND ORDER IN OCCUPIED IRELAND.......'
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

For the first time ever , according to a Tory-Unionist announcement in Belfast , the Six-County group of Conservative Imperial M.P.'s in the British House of Commons, were dined and wined by British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan at Number 10 Downing Street on December 4th , 1957 .

It was described as a purely social occasion , but the Imperial M.P.'s from Occupied Ireland said later that a full discussion of Six County affairs had taken place : the reason for the dinner , Belfast Tory-Unionists said , was to give Harold MacMillan an opportunity to learn about Occupied Ireland's problems in the "...security and economic.." fields !

Present at the dinner was Mr. R. A. Butler, 'Lord Privy Seal' and British Home Secretary who is the British Cabinet member directly responsible for Occupied Ireland . 'Sir' Phelim O' Neill sent Harold MacMillan a telegram saying he could not be present as he was fog-bound on his way from the Six Counties . His plight seems to illustrate the position of the Stormont Tories in general ...
[END of 'LAW AND ORDER IN OCCUPIED IRELAND']
(Next - 'The Question Of Partition' : 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.

The State's 'Family Planning Act' was a male solution to a problem conceptualised in male terms which , on the evidence of this book , is the same as an 'Irish solution to an Irish problem' , in Charlie Haughey's memorable if unenlightened phrase.

Only James Connolly - here given his due as one of the very few Irish revolutionaries who recognised the centrality of women's demands - was aware that struggle can be undertaken in a spirit of pleasure , warmth and joy , and that to demonstrate these qualities is to affirm one's determination neither to accept defeat nor to accept one's enemies definition of defeat - in appropriate circumstances they are revolutionary weapons.......
(MORE LATER).



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

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

Charles Haughey may act like a despot but he is a committed democrat . ('1169...' Comment : 'Committed' to his own well-being...) He repeatedly points out that Ireland is the home of western democracy and his greatest wish is to be loved by what he terms "my people" (Link here...) . Moreover , what his critics in this respect invariably miss is the degree of irony which is inherent in his persona .

P.J. Mara's 'Uno Duce' remark , for example , was a throwaway joke which was taken out of context ('1169...' Comment - Not so . That comment was a yardstick of how far the political gombeen 'yes' men and women were prepared to go to support their 'Boss' and , in doing so , they hoped , safeguard their own sleezy careers ) . Nobody who knows P.J. Mara could possibly think otherwise . ('1169...' Comment - ...see last comment.) Charles Haughey was furious about that incident , though he undoubtedly appreciated the irony .

But Mr. Mara has not abandoned his sense of humour as a result of this 'bad experience' : at the launch of the Fianna Fail election manifesto in a Dublin hotel last week , the music which blared from the sound-system before the press conference was Beethoven's Emperor Concerto. Not one journalist mentioned this . Journalists don't much like jokes unless they are on somebody else . ('1169...' Comment : ....and some people will go out of their way to excuse arrogance as a 'joke' , especially when that arrogance comes from a person they admire.... )

(MORE LATER).

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REPORT AND PICTURES ON BODENSTOWN 2007 .


"We have come to the holiest place in Ireland: holier to us than the place where Patrick sleeps in Down. Patrick brought us life, but this man died for us. And though many before him and some since have died in testimony of the truth of Ireland's claim to nationhood, Wolfe Tone was the greatest of all that have died for Ireland whether in old time or in new. He was the greatest of Irish nationalists. I believe he was the greatest of Irish men. And if I am right in this I am right in saying that we stand in the holiest place in Ireland and that the holiest sod of a Nation's soil is the sod where the greatest of her dead lies buried."

-that is the first paragraph of the address delivered by Pádraig Pearse at Wolfe Tone's grave on June 12, 1913.

A report and photographs of the Commemoration held on Sunday June 10th 2007 can be seen here.

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LAW AND ORDER/WOMEN'S GHETTO/A ROUGH BEAST.

'LAW AND ORDER IN OCCUPIED IRELAND'
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

'Sir' Norman Stronge had many words of advice for many people when he addressed a meeting of Tory-Unionists in Mullaghglass , County Armagh , recently . 'Sir' Norman , the Speaker at Stormont, congratulated Mr. de Valera for coming out on the side of what he called "...law and order.." in Occupied Ireland : he said - " I suppose that with age people get more sense. "

'Sir' Norman said that he thought that what Mr. de Valera stated could be trusted . He went on to say that all "...the rot.." which the Resistance preached could be put down to propaganda , and that industrialists were coming from Canada and the USA to build factories in Occupied Ireland , and that their friends in many parts of 'the Empire' were congratulating them for their stand on the side of Britain .

'Sir' Stronge also told the members of the Mullaghglass Unionist Association that they owed more to the Tory Party in England than anybody knew ; he said a good many of the Labour Party were unfriendly to them and the Liberal Party was for Home Rule.......
(MORE LATER).



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.

Hannah Sheehy Skeffington pointed out that the position women were forced to adopt in the Gaelic revival and Sinn Fein was a restricting one , re-inforcing their roles as 'mother and housewife' .

She advised women to "...refuse any longer to be camp followers and parasites of public life , dependent upon caprice and expediency.." : the pity is that her advice was ignored , and Irishwomen are still suffering the consequences . The 1935 Conditions of Employment Act, presented by the late 'progressive' Sean Lemass, and supported by the male Labour leaders in Leinster House and the State Senate- under the paternalistic guise of concern for women's welfare - restricted women's access to the workforce , and hence retarded their entry in significant numbers into the trade union movement .

De Valera's 1937 (State) Constitution made second-class citizens of half the population - the 'Mother and Child' debacle and the even more recent Constitutional Amendment on Abortion show the ease with which women's needs can be ignored , once women are persuaded to subordinate them.......
(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, more than any Irish politician , is aware of the dynamics of power : he knows that the ability to use power is useless unless you first obtain it . He knows that to do this in a democracy you must be a 'Man Of The People' , which he undoubtedly is , but that you must also have authority , a sense of leadership , about you . He knows about the theatrics of power .

He has cultivated mannerisms which he has borrowed from a wide range of leaders which include Napoleon, Lemass and Catholic Popes ! If you watch his hands , they speak volumes about his belief in himself , his destiny , his inevitable inheritance of the earth . He is acutely aware , however , that there is a potential conflict between being a 'Man Of The People' and maintaining the necessary trappings of power .

You must have the illusion of wealth , but you mustn't flaunt it . It is a tricky tightrope : he rarely allows himself to be photographed inside his house in Kinsealy - "...too much Georgian splendour.." , he explains . Because of this monarchical streak in Haughey's character , much has been made of the possible dangers to democracy should he achieve his ambition of an extended period in Office . This is almost certainly pure nonsense ('1169...' Comment... that Haughey was living beyond his means was obvious to almost all at the time ..) and we have recently observed the colour of the democracy espoused by one of the chief proponents of this viewpoint , Dr Conor Cruise O' Brien, in the form of his behaviour over South Africa.......

(MORE LATER).

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