24-HOUR FAST IN SUPPORT OF MAGHABERRY POW'S.....
....on Friday 4th June 2010 ,at 2pm, outside the GPO in Dublin , a 24-hour Fast in support of the POW's in Maghaberry Prison will begin : the Fast will end at 2pm on Saturday 5th June. This has been arranged by the RSF POW Department , and if you can help, in any way, it would be much appreciated.

Republican prisoners are unbroken and unbreakable.

Statement by the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton.

Speaking at a march and rally held in Belfast on Saturday May 29 in support of the struggle for political status by the Republcan prisoners in Maghaberry prison, the President of Republican Sinn Féin, Des Dalton, said:

" 'I have no prouder boast than to say I am Irish and have been privileged to fight for the Irish people and for Ireland. If I have a duty I will perform it to the full in the unshakable belief that we are a noble race and that chains and bonds have no part in us.' These are the words of Hunger Strike Francis Hughes written in a letter addressed to the people of South Derry and surrounding areas five days before he embarked on his hunger strike.
He was in doubt as to the nature of their protest when he said that: "Its very roots lie in the 1100 years of struggle" against England’s occupation of our country. The men in Maghaberry today are imprisoned by the same enemy and for the same cause. We are proud of each and every one of them.

The fight of the prisoners in Maghaberry is a struggle for the right inherent to all who take up arms against the forces of British occupation – the right to political status. These men are political prisoners, denied their freedom because they refuse to acquiesce in the face of British rule. They are in the vanguard of a generation who have neither been purchased or intimidated. Standing with them is a man who served 19 years of a 25-year sentence in Long Kesh Martin Corey of Lurgan. He is a political hostage; interned because he too can neither be purchased or intimidated, unbroken and unbreakable.
The Republican prisoners in Maghaberry are engaged in a fight against the British state’s attempt to criminalise Ireland’s historic fight for freedom. By their action the prisoners are sending a message which echoes throughout Ireland and the world that British rule will never be accepted in Ireland and will always be met with resistance.
In its monthly publication the Six-County British Colonial Police Federation admitted that the RUC/PSNI must recognise the “enduring nature” of Republican resistance. The chain of Republican continuity stretches back over two hundred years, we will endure and resist until the last vestige of British rule has been removed from our country.
Francis Hughes knew well the importance of mobilising the people and the strength which the Republican prisoners can draw from the solidarity and activism of the people. As you march and rally, refuse to be intimated by the harassment of the much hated RUC and those who cower beside them. Shout all the louder Political Status Now!"
FRIDAY , 4th JUNE NEXT, 2pm , GPO DUBLIN - 24-HOUR FAST.....
Sharon.

---

---

---

Aitheasc an Uachtaráin Ruairí Ó Brádaigh don 85ú Ard-Fheis de Shinn Féin in Óstlann an Spa , Leamhcán , Co. Atha Cliath , 21ú agus 22ú Deireadh Fómhair , 1989 /
Presidential Address of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh to the 85th Ard-Fheis of Sinn Féin in the Spa Hotel , Lucan , County Dublin , 21st and 22nd October 1989.....

" Nevertheless the recent decision of the Tory party to organise and to consider contesting elections in that part of Ireland which is directly ruled by Britain, is interesting.

It marks both a milestone in the century-old alliance with Unionist and Orange reaction and a further attempt by the 'Saatchi and Saatchi' people to clean up the mess that is British rule in Ireland by giving 'new style' Tory imperialism a more acceptable public image abroad.

This may result in straight vote splits between Unionists and Tories in some constituencies which, in turn , could spell the end of the lie that places like Fermanagh and Tyrone , Mid-Ulster etc were ever pro-Union with England. Certain Conservative elements would welcome this. With Mr Hume (pictured here, on the right , of course...) in Derry and Mr Mallon (on the left in this picture. Only.) in Newry and Armagh , the scenario of 17 Northern seats at Westminster with anything up to 7 of these being held by "anti-Unionists" would put a cleaner gloss on the basic national gerrymander that is partition....."
(MORE LATER).





BETRAYAL.......
The (State) Gardaí used John Corcoran (pictured) as a (P)IRA informer. They allowed him to be killed by another (P)IRA informer, and have since refused to investigate his murder*.
From 'MAGILL' magazine, Christmas Annual 1997.
By Ursula Halligan and Vincent Browne.
(* '1169...' Comment - their word, not ours.)

Surrounded by four of her eight children , Catherine (29) , Seán (27) , Bláthnaid (16) and Aoibhinn (13) , Eileen Corcoran told 'Magill' magazine that while they remain heartbroken about their loss , they are now equally frustrated by the many unanswered questions about her husband's death and by the conduct of the gardaí in the whole affair.

" I'm not bitter towards Seán O Callaghan . I'm not looking for revenge. All I'm looking for are answers. If there is someone out there who says he did it , bring him in and see did he do it, and then hopefully we can pick up the pieces and get on with our lives."

Catherine cannot understand the inaction of the gardaí . When she was in Boston earlier this year, Seán O Callaghan was making front-page news. " I picked up a copy of the 'Irish Voice' newspaper and he was quoted as saying he had no problem admitting to what he had done, including the murder* of my dad , and that he's willing to accept the consequences but that not once had any Irish official ever approached him or asked him about this. We can't understand it....."
(MORE LATER).




ON SATURDAY MAY 29th, 2010, a march will take place in Belfast to demand political status for the Republican prisoners in Maghaberry. No permission has been sought from the British state for the march as it is a long standing principle of Irish Republicans not to seek permission from either the British or 26-County state to march anywhere in Ireland.
The march will assemble in at Dunville Park and make its way to Castle St where a rally will be held. Among the speakers will be the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton, Vice President Fergal Moore and a relative of the POWs. The march is being organised by the Republican Sinn Féin POW Department.
We ask as many as possible of the readers of this blog to attend this rally
as it is important that both corrupt 'parliaments' in Ireland - and their 'Mother' parliament in Westminster - be left in no doubt that Irish Republicans on the outside are not prepared to sit on the sidelines and watch as their comrades 'inside' are mistreated by the representatives of that 'Mother' parliament.



A fund-raiser for the Cumann na mBan organisation will be held on Friday 18th June 2010 in the 79'r Pub in Ballyfermot, Dublin , featuring the Irish ballad group 'The Druids'. Doors open at 8.30pm , admission per person is €5 and a raffle for Irish Republican items will be held on the night. ALL WELCOME !
Thanks!
Sharon.

---

---

---

CABHAIR 2010 TESTIMONIAL , Saturday 22nd May : a dignified and fitting tribute to five Irish Republican stalwarts!


Over 100 four-course dinners were served to the Irish Republican men and women who had travelled from all over Ireland , England , Scotland , Wales and America , to the Academy Plaza Hotel in Dublin , to show their respect to the 2010 CABHAIR Honorees - Joan Kennedy (Cork) , Pádraig MacMathúna (Clare) , Leo Martin (Belfast) , Paul Stanley (Kildare) and Bart Gormley (Galway). The meals were served in a ground-floor lounge area , after which we retired to one of the basement function rooms for the actual presentations , speeches , drinks , raffle and chit-chat !

Each presentation was preceeded by a few words from the Chairperson , Dan Hoban, Mayo, who outlined part of the reason why CABHAIR had picked that particular person as worthy to receive the blessing of the Republican Movement , and some of the stories re-lived during the comments delivered by Dan - to loud cheers from the audience ! - are best not repeated here! The bar was kept very busy , with a good few of the CABHAIR guests deciding instead to take the lift up to the ground floor for quicker service, and it seemed that each such 'traveller' returned to the function with a recently 'lost' friend , as extra seating had to be quickly obtained by the CABHAIR 'bouncers' present !
RSF President , Des Dalton , gave a rousing speech , during which he thanked the CABHAIR Honorees for their service to Irish Republicanism , and gave notice of a few up-coming events , including the Saturday May 29th 2010 March and rally in Belfast in support of Irish Republican POW's - this rally will be assembling at Dunville Park and will make its way to Castle Street . A loud cheer was given when Des stressed that no 'permission' from the British had been applied for , nor would it be, for this event.
There were six prizes on offer at the raffle : two framed and etched Republican mirrors , one bodhron, two bottles of booze and one 'Irish Freedom Press' gift voucher , to the value of €30. Needless to say, this blog walked/stumbled away (at 3.30am!) empty-handed ! Like all of those present , we met , had dinner , drinks and talked with old friends , colleagues and comrades , and we're told one of us (!) made a right show of herself on the dance floor...
We publish 20-odd* pictures from the night with these few paragraphs ( * - lost count. Still mentally on the 'dance floor'! ) , some of which are 'not the best' : we still haven't mastered the fine art of holding a camera , focussing it and taking a good picture with one hand , whilst holding pints of cider with the other hand , and carrying a few other such pints under the belt !
By the way - the last ten pictures (again -* !) are specially for our friends in New York , New Jersey , and Boston , amongst other American cities , and have nothing at all to do with the fact that we here at this blog are saving our cents in the hope of a US holiday. Cheap , or FOC digs, mean that 5th Avenue will see more of us ;-) !


The group on stage.


CABHAIR 'shop' at the 2010 Testimonial.


Some of those present at the 2010 CABHAIR Testimonial , 22nd May , Dublin.


Plaques ready for presentation.


Presentation to Pádraig.


Presentation to Leo.


Ruairi and Bart.


Presentation to Bart.


Presentation to Joan.


On behalf of Paul Stanley...


Joan , Donal and Dan.



Section of the crowd.






























The CABHAIR organisation is to be congratulated for the principled manner in which , as usual , it honoured those at this years Testimonial , for the organisational skills which were very much evident , and for the professional manner it handled all aspects of the function. It is one of the annual pleasures that we on this blog are thrilled to attend , knowing in advance that a good evening (and morning!) are in store. And we weren't disappointed !
Thanks for reading - and, again, apologises for some of the pics. We're only going to drink glasses next year. Promise...
Sharon.

---

---

---