.....on 16th February 1875,the Irish rebel John Mitchel won a seat in the British parliament , representing Tipperary - however , the British House of Commons had other ideas on Mitchel's victory ......
The British declared that Mitchel's election was void as he was a felon,and stated that a new election to fill the Tipperary seat would be held on 11th March , 1875 . John Mitchel , not being in the best of health, canvassed locally and, as the 'ex-MP' , drew huge crowds, while his election team covered the neighbouring counties ; at the Theatre Royal in Cork , for instance,the following statement was read to a packed house on his behalf - "The first and greatest good which I see in that election is , that it was a magnificent pronouncement in favour of the national right of Ireland , and against the usurpation of the British parliament. The people of Tipperary elected me as the most implacable enemy of British tyranny " .
The (2nd) election results were announced on 12th March, 1875 (the day after the election) ; ...... (MORE LATER)>
THE WOMAN CRIED
Six days he fought
midst dying piles of gory mutilated heroes,
And the English cannon roared
Upon the ghosts of Celtic bones,
a nation's blood was poured.
Thousands fell in screaming bloody terror
whilst the informer hid cowering close by,
But there were none left amongst that bloody fray
to hear the woman cry.
------- Bobby Sands.
From 'The Evening Press', 14th November 1986 (a Friday, I think...) , page 3 --
On 13th November, 1986 (possibly a Thursday) Ronald Reagan confirmed he undertook eighteen months of secret diplomacy with Iran and sent over "small amounts" of weapons in order "to improve relations" ie for Iran to exert pressure to ensure that U S citizens were not kidnapped and held hostage in the Lebanon ! And the U S agents that delivered the "small amounts" of weapons travelled on passports issued by the Free State administration in Dublin .....
..... so we had U S agents (probably CIA) delivering weapons to Iran with the aid of Free State passports in an apparent attempt to bribe the authorities in Iran to put pressure on a militia in Lebanon not to kidnap U S citizens !
See - we play on the world stage with the big boys ; no wonder Bertie is the Statesman he so obviously is !
Friday, May 30, 2003
.....in July 1874 , John Mitchel returned to Ireland after an enforced absence (by the British) of twenty-six years and stated that he would stand for election to the British Parliament if a vacancy arose , but on one condition - that he would not take his seat , if elected ; he then returned to America .....
Shortly afterwards, a vacancy occurred in Tipperary , and his name was put forward as a candidate - his friend, John Martin, went to print with John Mitchel's election address , which he had left in Ireland for just such an occasion , and which finished with the declaration ; "I am in favour of Home Rule- that is, the sovereign independence of Ireland" (which was not what the British understood by the term!). Because he had been nominated to contest the election (due to take place on 16th February 1875) , John Mitchel again left America for Ireland and landed in Cork ; on his arrival , he was greeted by friends and supporters and was told that the election was over and he had been successful - he was now MP for Tipperary . The English House of Commons, however, had other ideas on Mitchel's victory ..... (MORE LATER)>
THE WOMAN CRIED
Cold black water lashed and splashed
and played around a tattered reed,
By dying embers, to God a woman prayed
that the Gael might but succeed.
The silver nails of a rugged boot
scarred a lonely lifeless stone,
'Cross rambling hill he marched afoot,
to fight along with Tone.
----- by Bobby Sands; final two verses tomorrow.
In October 1986 , Fine Gael's Garret Fitzgerald gave an interview to the 'Belfast Telegraph' , in which he said - "The fact is that, over the past year, Northern Nationalists have seen the judicial system operating in a manner .... that is equitable and fair.They have seen the security forces being even-handed in the way they have handled very difficult problems with great courage and dedication. They have seen progress in the willingness on the part of the British Government to tackle more effectively the problems of discrimination which remain " . Asked about the Dublin administration's 'meddlesome interference in the affairs of another country' (or some such similar 'Telegraph'-loaded question) , the Fine Gael man answered- " We have no desire to be involved in the process of Northern Ireland(sic) any more than is necessary to tackle the problem of the IRA and eliminate it " ! .... NOW, NOW , folks- don't be too harsh on Fitzer; he was only speaking his mind(and that of those in Leinster House.....)
Shortly afterwards, a vacancy occurred in Tipperary , and his name was put forward as a candidate - his friend, John Martin, went to print with John Mitchel's election address , which he had left in Ireland for just such an occasion , and which finished with the declaration ; "I am in favour of Home Rule- that is, the sovereign independence of Ireland" (which was not what the British understood by the term!). Because he had been nominated to contest the election (due to take place on 16th February 1875) , John Mitchel again left America for Ireland and landed in Cork ; on his arrival , he was greeted by friends and supporters and was told that the election was over and he had been successful - he was now MP for Tipperary . The English House of Commons, however, had other ideas on Mitchel's victory ..... (MORE LATER)>
THE WOMAN CRIED
Cold black water lashed and splashed
and played around a tattered reed,
By dying embers, to God a woman prayed
that the Gael might but succeed.
The silver nails of a rugged boot
scarred a lonely lifeless stone,
'Cross rambling hill he marched afoot,
to fight along with Tone.
----- by Bobby Sands; final two verses tomorrow.
In October 1986 , Fine Gael's Garret Fitzgerald gave an interview to the 'Belfast Telegraph' , in which he said - "The fact is that, over the past year, Northern Nationalists have seen the judicial system operating in a manner .... that is equitable and fair.They have seen the security forces being even-handed in the way they have handled very difficult problems with great courage and dedication. They have seen progress in the willingness on the part of the British Government to tackle more effectively the problems of discrimination which remain " . Asked about the Dublin administration's 'meddlesome interference in the affairs of another country' (or some such similar 'Telegraph'-loaded question) , the Fine Gael man answered- " We have no desire to be involved in the process of Northern Ireland(sic) any more than is necessary to tackle the problem of the IRA and eliminate it " ! .... NOW, NOW , folks- don't be too harsh on Fitzer; he was only speaking his mind(and that of those in Leinster House.....)
Thursday, May 29, 2003
In 1875 , when the results of an election held in Ireland did'nt suit the British Government , they did what they do best - they 'waived the rules' .... and then , within weeks, they done it again ....
In that year , 1875, the 'Young Ireland' leader , John Mitchel, was twice returned as MP for Tipperary - and was twice disenfranchised by the Brits !
When his newspaper 'The United Irishman' was suppressed by the British in May 1848, John Mitchel was arrested and charged with treason felony - he was sentenced to transportation to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) for 14 years but escaped to America in 1853 (see archives). Still viewed by the British as a 'convicted felon' and liable to arrest, he landed in Ireland in July 1874 , after an enforced absence of twenty-six years ! He stated that he would stand for parliament if a vacancy arose , but on one condition - that the electorate be made aware that he would not take his seat in the House of Commons if elected ; he then returned to America . Shortly afterwards , a vacancy occured in Tipperary ...... (MORE LATER)>
THE WOMAN CRIED
From humble home in dead of night
a flitting shadow fled,
The yellow moon caught sharpened pike
where the night shades danced and played.
A bramble clawed at trembling hand
and a night owl watched unseen,
Through bog and glen a United man
marched out to win a dream.
(.... a six-stanza poem by Bobby Sands, published in 1981 : more later).
From 'The Sunday Tribune', 2nd November 1986, page 21 -
After U S Marines invaded Grenada in 1983 , Duane Clarridge, the CIA Organiser of the Contras, drove around Grenada with a car-bumper sticker saying - "Nicaragua Next" ! Clarridge was questioned by a U S Congressional Committee in relation to what he knew about the then situation in Nicaragua , and eventually admitted that - "civilians and Sandinista Officials in the provinces, as well as heads of co-operatives , nurses, doctors and judges " had been killed by the (U S-backed) Contras .
State-sponsored terrorism ; the Brits do it in Ireland , and .......
In that year , 1875, the 'Young Ireland' leader , John Mitchel, was twice returned as MP for Tipperary - and was twice disenfranchised by the Brits !
When his newspaper 'The United Irishman' was suppressed by the British in May 1848, John Mitchel was arrested and charged with treason felony - he was sentenced to transportation to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) for 14 years but escaped to America in 1853 (see archives). Still viewed by the British as a 'convicted felon' and liable to arrest, he landed in Ireland in July 1874 , after an enforced absence of twenty-six years ! He stated that he would stand for parliament if a vacancy arose , but on one condition - that the electorate be made aware that he would not take his seat in the House of Commons if elected ; he then returned to America . Shortly afterwards , a vacancy occured in Tipperary ...... (MORE LATER)>
THE WOMAN CRIED
From humble home in dead of night
a flitting shadow fled,
The yellow moon caught sharpened pike
where the night shades danced and played.
A bramble clawed at trembling hand
and a night owl watched unseen,
Through bog and glen a United man
marched out to win a dream.
(.... a six-stanza poem by Bobby Sands, published in 1981 : more later).
From 'The Sunday Tribune', 2nd November 1986, page 21 -
After U S Marines invaded Grenada in 1983 , Duane Clarridge, the CIA Organiser of the Contras, drove around Grenada with a car-bumper sticker saying - "Nicaragua Next" ! Clarridge was questioned by a U S Congressional Committee in relation to what he knew about the then situation in Nicaragua , and eventually admitted that - "civilians and Sandinista Officials in the provinces, as well as heads of co-operatives , nurses, doctors and judges " had been killed by the (U S-backed) Contras .
State-sponsored terrorism ; the Brits do it in Ireland , and .......
Wednesday, May 28, 2003
....by 1645 , Owen Roe O'Neill had a professional Irish Army of five-thousand men armed , trained and prepared for battle .....
The English Army General , Munroe, issued orders in June 1646 that the three Anglo-Scottish armies in the North of Ireland were to converge - his plan was to march south to invade Leinster ; O'Neill had his own plan .....
He moved his men from Cavan to Benburb in County Tyrone , on the River Blackwater, and positioned his army on a hill , with his flank protected by a bog on one side and the rivers Blackwater and Oona on the other side . When O'Neill heard that Munroe was marching on his position , he sent word for Brian O'Neill and Owen O'Doherty , with their men, to follow Munroe and his Army . On 5th June , 1646, Munroe and his men were facing O'Neills forces and by now must have realised that the other O'Neill and O'Doherty were behind them - they were trapped.
Owen Roe O'Neill gave the order to charge and Munroe's army panicked ; the two groups behind Munroe attacked at the same time and the English forces scattered- some tried to cross the Blackwater , others ran for the River Oona ,but most perished in the marshes nearby .The Irish rebels surged into the remainder of the invaders (from two directions) and won the day - Munroe lost more than three-thousand soldiers while the Irish suffered around seventy dead. 'The Battle of Benburb' was a total triumph for the Irish ; however, the victory was only enjoyed for three short years - in August 1649 , Oliver Cromwell got the revenge that the English craved.
"The concrete floor was so cold that to pace the floor would be impossible in one's bare feet. Three small flimsy blankets and lying upon a damp mattress would not provide enough warmth for escape through sleep. This night will be another night, huddled up in the corner, fighting the intense cold amidst despairing thoughts when pain and depression become almost overwhelming . The wind is rising and growing angry ; it will carry the blankets of falling snow in through the paneless windows. I am very, very cold now. I can stand here and freeze at the window gazing upon this barbed-wire jungle of colour and whiteness , or I can retreat to my little den in the corner of my tomb ...... " (continued tomorrow..) .
----'The Writings of Bobby Sands', April 1981 (first published in 'Republican News', 20th January 1979).
....'loyal' shipyard workers from Harland and Wolff physically prevented a rally for Labour candidates in the May 1921 elections from taking place in the 'Ulster Hall' , terming them "Bolsheviks" . At Stormont , Prime Minister Craig (later Lord Craigavon) moved an amendment saying- " The employment of disloyalists (meaning Catholics, in H+W) is prejudicial to the state and takes jobs away from loyalists" .Between January 1975 and December 1979, British governments paid out £103 million in grants and loans to H+W . The Thatcher administration came to power in 1979 , supposedly committed to strict 'no lame-ducks' criteria and to cuts in public spending - however, H+W went on to receive a total of £291 million from public funds !
In 1980 , a £42.5 million hand-out was partly paid for by a temporary suspension of housing repair work and an extra cut-back in welfare services , hitting the North's unemployed the hardest .
...." a cold house " indeed .
The English Army General , Munroe, issued orders in June 1646 that the three Anglo-Scottish armies in the North of Ireland were to converge - his plan was to march south to invade Leinster ; O'Neill had his own plan .....
He moved his men from Cavan to Benburb in County Tyrone , on the River Blackwater, and positioned his army on a hill , with his flank protected by a bog on one side and the rivers Blackwater and Oona on the other side . When O'Neill heard that Munroe was marching on his position , he sent word for Brian O'Neill and Owen O'Doherty , with their men, to follow Munroe and his Army . On 5th June , 1646, Munroe and his men were facing O'Neills forces and by now must have realised that the other O'Neill and O'Doherty were behind them - they were trapped.
Owen Roe O'Neill gave the order to charge and Munroe's army panicked ; the two groups behind Munroe attacked at the same time and the English forces scattered- some tried to cross the Blackwater , others ran for the River Oona ,but most perished in the marshes nearby .The Irish rebels surged into the remainder of the invaders (from two directions) and won the day - Munroe lost more than three-thousand soldiers while the Irish suffered around seventy dead. 'The Battle of Benburb' was a total triumph for the Irish ; however, the victory was only enjoyed for three short years - in August 1649 , Oliver Cromwell got the revenge that the English craved.
"The concrete floor was so cold that to pace the floor would be impossible in one's bare feet. Three small flimsy blankets and lying upon a damp mattress would not provide enough warmth for escape through sleep. This night will be another night, huddled up in the corner, fighting the intense cold amidst despairing thoughts when pain and depression become almost overwhelming . The wind is rising and growing angry ; it will carry the blankets of falling snow in through the paneless windows. I am very, very cold now. I can stand here and freeze at the window gazing upon this barbed-wire jungle of colour and whiteness , or I can retreat to my little den in the corner of my tomb ...... " (continued tomorrow..) .
----'The Writings of Bobby Sands', April 1981 (first published in 'Republican News', 20th January 1979).
....'loyal' shipyard workers from Harland and Wolff physically prevented a rally for Labour candidates in the May 1921 elections from taking place in the 'Ulster Hall' , terming them "Bolsheviks" . At Stormont , Prime Minister Craig (later Lord Craigavon) moved an amendment saying- " The employment of disloyalists (meaning Catholics, in H+W) is prejudicial to the state and takes jobs away from loyalists" .Between January 1975 and December 1979, British governments paid out £103 million in grants and loans to H+W . The Thatcher administration came to power in 1979 , supposedly committed to strict 'no lame-ducks' criteria and to cuts in public spending - however, H+W went on to receive a total of £291 million from public funds !
In 1980 , a £42.5 million hand-out was partly paid for by a temporary suspension of housing repair work and an extra cut-back in welfare services , hitting the North's unemployed the hardest .
...." a cold house " indeed .
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
' The Battle of Benburb ' was fought in County Tyrone, in Ireland, on 5th June, 1646 ; the English lost more than three thousand soldiers- the Irish lost around seventy ......
Two Irish Chiefs, Rory O'More and Phelim O'Neill, recognised an opportunity to strike-out for Irish freedom in 1641 ; in the winter of that year, civil war was imminent in England between King Charles and the English Parliament . O'Neill and his army took control of Ulster , joined up with Rory O'More and his army and marched south into Louth and Meath ; their success was noted and within months uprisings took place in Munster and Connaught .
Owen Roe O'Neill (an Irish Chief) and his men had been exiled by the English , and had served with distinction in the Spanish Army ; in July 1642 , he returned to Ireland with his troops to join in the fight against English domination : he organised the Irish forces in a professional manner and , by the winter of 1645, had established a base of some five thousand trained soldiers in County Cavan ...... (MORE LATER)>
MODERN TIMES
As the bureaucrats, speculators and presidents alike
pin on their dirty, stinking,happy smiles tonight,
The lonely prisoner will cry out from within his tomb,
and tomorrow's wretch will leave its mother's womb !
----- Bobby Sands , 1979 .
(NOTE- there are still Irish Republican prisoners in jails today while so-called republicans meet with the "bureaucrats , speculators and presidents ",in their quest to build a career for themselves).
The Belfast shipyard 'Harland and Wolff' has made the headlines many times since the British partitioned this country (indeed, they not only partitioned the country, but also partitioned Ulster ie from nine counties to six); but the shipyard's 'protestant state for a protestant people'-ethics pre-dates partition :
In 1864 , approximately six-hundred shipyard workers armed with muskets , pistols, axes and other weapons attacked Catholic 'navvies' who were excavating new docks . Neal Fagan, a Catholic, was axed to death. In a similar attack in June 1886, Seamus Curran was murdered. In 1911 , out of a total of 6,809 shipyard workers, only 518 were Catholics , and expulsions were organised to get rid of the Catholics ; in 1912, 1920 , 1935, 1939 , 1969 and 1970 , they were forced to leave . In the May 1921 elections , a massed crowd of "loyal shipyard workers" physically prevented a rally for Labour-party candidates from taking place in the Ulster Hall, terming them "bolsheviks" ....... (MORE LATER)>
Two Irish Chiefs, Rory O'More and Phelim O'Neill, recognised an opportunity to strike-out for Irish freedom in 1641 ; in the winter of that year, civil war was imminent in England between King Charles and the English Parliament . O'Neill and his army took control of Ulster , joined up with Rory O'More and his army and marched south into Louth and Meath ; their success was noted and within months uprisings took place in Munster and Connaught .
Owen Roe O'Neill (an Irish Chief) and his men had been exiled by the English , and had served with distinction in the Spanish Army ; in July 1642 , he returned to Ireland with his troops to join in the fight against English domination : he organised the Irish forces in a professional manner and , by the winter of 1645, had established a base of some five thousand trained soldiers in County Cavan ...... (MORE LATER)>
MODERN TIMES
As the bureaucrats, speculators and presidents alike
pin on their dirty, stinking,happy smiles tonight,
The lonely prisoner will cry out from within his tomb,
and tomorrow's wretch will leave its mother's womb !
----- Bobby Sands , 1979 .
(NOTE- there are still Irish Republican prisoners in jails today while so-called republicans meet with the "bureaucrats , speculators and presidents ",in their quest to build a career for themselves).
The Belfast shipyard 'Harland and Wolff' has made the headlines many times since the British partitioned this country (indeed, they not only partitioned the country, but also partitioned Ulster ie from nine counties to six); but the shipyard's 'protestant state for a protestant people'-ethics pre-dates partition :
In 1864 , approximately six-hundred shipyard workers armed with muskets , pistols, axes and other weapons attacked Catholic 'navvies' who were excavating new docks . Neal Fagan, a Catholic, was axed to death. In a similar attack in June 1886, Seamus Curran was murdered. In 1911 , out of a total of 6,809 shipyard workers, only 518 were Catholics , and expulsions were organised to get rid of the Catholics ; in 1912, 1920 , 1935, 1939 , 1969 and 1970 , they were forced to leave . In the May 1921 elections , a massed crowd of "loyal shipyard workers" physically prevented a rally for Labour-party candidates from taking place in the Ulster Hall, terming them "bolsheviks" ....... (MORE LATER)>
Monday, May 26, 2003
....the IRA prisoners planning to escape from Strangeways Prison in Manchester, England, had decided on how to escape and passed details of their plan to the IRA leadership in Dublin ; before they were locked-up for the night , the prisoners were allowed out to exercise in a small yard which itself was enclosed by a railings which, in turn , was surrounded by a forty-foot wall ....
On 15th October 1919 , at around 4.30pm , the six IRA prisoners were let out to the exercise yard as usual - but this time they overpowered the warder and climbed over the railings; they then signalled over the forty-foot wall to their comrades on the other side , who then threw over a rope-ladder . The six men were met on the other side of the prison wall by about thirty IRA Volunteers who had placed themselves at both ends of the street and held captive everyone on the street at that time . 'Safe-houses' in Manchester had already been arranged and the six men were lodged in same and left there for a number of days; they were then moved to Liverpool and put on a B+I steamer - all arrived safely in Dublin .
For the second time within a year , the IRA had used practically the same plan to escape from their captors : a fact which compounded British embarrassment .
MODERN TIMES
And while fat dictators sit upon their thrones
young children bury their parents' bones,
And secret police in the dead of night
electrocute the naked women out of sight.
In the gutter lies the black man, dead
and where the oil flows blackest, the street runs red,
And there was He who was born and came to be
but lived and died without liberty.
----- Bobby Sands, 1979 (last verse tomorrow).
Dr. John Austin Baker, the then Anglican Bishop of Salisbury , England, stated (in 1994) - " No British government ought ever to forget that this perilous moment, like many before it, is the outworking of a history for which our country is primarily responsible. Our injustice created the situation ; and by constantly repeating that we will maintain it so long as the majority(sic) wish it , we actively inhibit Protestant and Catholic from working out a new future together. This is the root of violence " .
-----and the "perilous moments" , the "injustice" and the "root of violence" will remain as long as the British claim of jurisdiction over any part of Ireland remains in place . Dr. Baker , and others, must realise that.....
On 15th October 1919 , at around 4.30pm , the six IRA prisoners were let out to the exercise yard as usual - but this time they overpowered the warder and climbed over the railings; they then signalled over the forty-foot wall to their comrades on the other side , who then threw over a rope-ladder . The six men were met on the other side of the prison wall by about thirty IRA Volunteers who had placed themselves at both ends of the street and held captive everyone on the street at that time . 'Safe-houses' in Manchester had already been arranged and the six men were lodged in same and left there for a number of days; they were then moved to Liverpool and put on a B+I steamer - all arrived safely in Dublin .
For the second time within a year , the IRA had used practically the same plan to escape from their captors : a fact which compounded British embarrassment .
MODERN TIMES
And while fat dictators sit upon their thrones
young children bury their parents' bones,
And secret police in the dead of night
electrocute the naked women out of sight.
In the gutter lies the black man, dead
and where the oil flows blackest, the street runs red,
And there was He who was born and came to be
but lived and died without liberty.
----- Bobby Sands, 1979 (last verse tomorrow).
Dr. John Austin Baker, the then Anglican Bishop of Salisbury , England, stated (in 1994) - " No British government ought ever to forget that this perilous moment, like many before it, is the outworking of a history for which our country is primarily responsible. Our injustice created the situation ; and by constantly repeating that we will maintain it so long as the majority(sic) wish it , we actively inhibit Protestant and Catholic from working out a new future together. This is the root of violence " .
-----and the "perilous moments" , the "injustice" and the "root of violence" will remain as long as the British claim of jurisdiction over any part of Ireland remains in place . Dr. Baker , and others, must realise that.....
Sunday, May 25, 2003
.... Austin Stack contacted IRA GHQ Staff in Dublin and outlined his plan of escape from Strangeways Prison in Manchester , to them - they approved of the plan....
In September 1919 , Rory O'Connor and Peadar Clancy were sent over to England to help organise the break-out . Messages were sent out from inside Strangeways , to O'Connor and Clancy by the IRA prisoners themselves as they were released , and those still inside the prison were kept up to date by messages passed on by visitors and notes concealed in food parcels . By late September 1919 , only six IRA prisoners remained in Strangeways ; Austin Stack , Piarais Beaslai , Dr. Patrick Walsh , Paddy McCarthy , Con Connolly and Sean Doran . The prison routine was common knowledge now with the prisoners and the IRA on the outside - the prisoners were locked-up in their cells for the evening each day between 5pm and 5.30pm ; before being locked-up,however, they were allowed out to exercise in a small yard which itself was enclosed by a railings which , in turn, was surrounded by a forty-foot wall ...... (MORE LATER)>
MODERN TIMES
It is said we live in modern times
in the civilised year of 'seventy-nine,
But when I look around, all I see,
is modern torture, pain and hypocrisy.
In modern times little children die
They starve to death but who dares ask why ?
And little girls without attire,
Run screaming, napalmed, through the night fire.
---- five-stanza poem written by Bobby Sands , 1979.
(more tomorrow....).
As Dublin's Lord Mayor at the time, Sean Haughey (yes-its him; his old man has a shirt fetish)was interviewed by 'Hot Press' magazine (see same,February 23rd,1995, page 24) during which he stated - " And, generally, in Fianna Fail, we're not inclined to perpetuate privilege. It's not what we stand for as a republican party " . What Sean meant was that Fianna Fail will "perpetuate privilege" if they are sitting when the 'Privileged One' calls.....(and don't get me going on the claim to be a "republican party" ....).Anyway , young Sean went on to complain that the noise outside the Mansion House, from traffic, -"kept me awake at night" ! ( or was it the people shouting "resign, you f#*&£r, resign...? and/or (wha?) was it his conscience that kept him awake ?)
He also stated - "I was'nt allowed to go to see 'In The Name Of The Father' , which is a film I'd loved to have seen.(My wife) heard it was distressing so that was that " !
And proper order too ! (NOTE - No sexist comment/ macho drivel here.....).
In September 1919 , Rory O'Connor and Peadar Clancy were sent over to England to help organise the break-out . Messages were sent out from inside Strangeways , to O'Connor and Clancy by the IRA prisoners themselves as they were released , and those still inside the prison were kept up to date by messages passed on by visitors and notes concealed in food parcels . By late September 1919 , only six IRA prisoners remained in Strangeways ; Austin Stack , Piarais Beaslai , Dr. Patrick Walsh , Paddy McCarthy , Con Connolly and Sean Doran . The prison routine was common knowledge now with the prisoners and the IRA on the outside - the prisoners were locked-up in their cells for the evening each day between 5pm and 5.30pm ; before being locked-up,however, they were allowed out to exercise in a small yard which itself was enclosed by a railings which , in turn, was surrounded by a forty-foot wall ...... (MORE LATER)>
MODERN TIMES
It is said we live in modern times
in the civilised year of 'seventy-nine,
But when I look around, all I see,
is modern torture, pain and hypocrisy.
In modern times little children die
They starve to death but who dares ask why ?
And little girls without attire,
Run screaming, napalmed, through the night fire.
---- five-stanza poem written by Bobby Sands , 1979.
(more tomorrow....).
As Dublin's Lord Mayor at the time, Sean Haughey (yes-its him; his old man has a shirt fetish)was interviewed by 'Hot Press' magazine (see same,February 23rd,1995, page 24) during which he stated - " And, generally, in Fianna Fail, we're not inclined to perpetuate privilege. It's not what we stand for as a republican party " . What Sean meant was that Fianna Fail will "perpetuate privilege" if they are sitting when the 'Privileged One' calls.....(and don't get me going on the claim to be a "republican party" ....).Anyway , young Sean went on to complain that the noise outside the Mansion House, from traffic, -"kept me awake at night" ! ( or was it the people shouting "resign, you f#*&£r, resign...? and/or (wha?) was it his conscience that kept him awake ?)
He also stated - "I was'nt allowed to go to see 'In The Name Of The Father' , which is a film I'd loved to have seen.(My wife) heard it was distressing so that was that " !
And proper order too ! (NOTE - No sexist comment/ macho drivel here.....).
Saturday, May 24, 2003
On October 15th , 1919 , six IRA prisoners escaped from Strangeways Prison , in Manchester, England ......
The Black and Tan War began in January 1919 ; within months, the British had captured a number of what they considered to be 'diehard' Republicans , and decided that it would be safer for them to hold those prisoners in England. Thirteen IRA prisoners, under the command of Austin Stack, found themselves incarcerated in Strangeways Prison - but none of them wanted to stay !
The men were serving sentences ranging from six months to two years , and all of them had heard about the then recent (March 1919) jail-break from Mountjoy Jail in Dublin , when twenty IRA prisoners used a ropeladder to escape (see '1169...' archives) : Austin Stack decided this was their best bet , and he contacted IRA GHQ Staff in Dublin to outline his plan.... (MORE LATER)>
".....you're going alright, son. Get him out" ...
"Jesus , they're on top of me, kicking and punching...I'm out of the cell, and in the corridor. Jesus , they're dragging me by the hair . My head's on fire, my eye is bleeding, they'll kill me! ."Right, get him into it.Get him into it!" . Jesus , it's stinging the eyes out of me! "Get the brushes". They're scrubbing the skin from my back , my flesh is burning, they're murdering me. My face and body are covered in blood and marks.
"Give it to him right. Give it to him right, so the rest of these bastards will see what they're going to get too " .Jesus! They're killing me. They're killing me. My head's light. Remember your spirit. 'Blessed is he who does not give up his hope' . Don't give in , don't give in , they can't break your spirit, they can't ..... " .
---' The Writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981.
" If he thinks the SDLP and the Dublin government and ourselves will support Assembly elections, James Molyneaux is living in cloud cuckoo land . And I don't believe for one minute that the British government believes that it is a workable solution because they've made it quite clear that there can be no internal settlement " .
---- Martin McGuinness , speaking on the BBC One television programme ' On The Record' , October 23rd, 1994.
So "Assembly elections" (which , by the way,Martin is now crying out for!) equal an "internal settlement" ; or do they represent a step towards a United Ireland , Martin, as you and your organisation promised ?.
The Black and Tan War began in January 1919 ; within months, the British had captured a number of what they considered to be 'diehard' Republicans , and decided that it would be safer for them to hold those prisoners in England. Thirteen IRA prisoners, under the command of Austin Stack, found themselves incarcerated in Strangeways Prison - but none of them wanted to stay !
The men were serving sentences ranging from six months to two years , and all of them had heard about the then recent (March 1919) jail-break from Mountjoy Jail in Dublin , when twenty IRA prisoners used a ropeladder to escape (see '1169...' archives) : Austin Stack decided this was their best bet , and he contacted IRA GHQ Staff in Dublin to outline his plan.... (MORE LATER)>
".....you're going alright, son. Get him out" ...
"Jesus , they're on top of me, kicking and punching...I'm out of the cell, and in the corridor. Jesus , they're dragging me by the hair . My head's on fire, my eye is bleeding, they'll kill me! ."Right, get him into it.Get him into it!" . Jesus , it's stinging the eyes out of me! "Get the brushes". They're scrubbing the skin from my back , my flesh is burning, they're murdering me. My face and body are covered in blood and marks.
"Give it to him right. Give it to him right, so the rest of these bastards will see what they're going to get too " .Jesus! They're killing me. They're killing me. My head's light. Remember your spirit. 'Blessed is he who does not give up his hope' . Don't give in , don't give in , they can't break your spirit, they can't ..... " .
---' The Writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981.
" If he thinks the SDLP and the Dublin government and ourselves will support Assembly elections, James Molyneaux is living in cloud cuckoo land . And I don't believe for one minute that the British government believes that it is a workable solution because they've made it quite clear that there can be no internal settlement " .
---- Martin McGuinness , speaking on the BBC One television programme ' On The Record' , October 23rd, 1994.
So "Assembly elections" (which , by the way,Martin is now crying out for!) equal an "internal settlement" ; or do they represent a step towards a United Ireland , Martin, as you and your organisation promised ?.
Friday, May 23, 2003
.... in 1854 , John Martin was released from jail in Van Diemens Land on condition that he stayed out of Ireland , which he did ......
In January 1856 , that proviso was lifted and John Martin returned to his native County Down , and again involved himself in the struggle - he was an outspoken supporter of the tenants rights movement and , in May 1870, at the age of 58, he helped to found the 'Home Government Association of Ireland' . In 1871 , to the disgust of the British, he was elected MP for Meath.
His good friend and fellow rebel John Mitchel died in March 1875 and, within a fortnight, John Martin died, aged 63 ; he had lived his life as a thorn in the side of "the most abominable tyranny;the British imperial system" . And helped sow the seeds for more thorn bushes ...
"Here they come , keys jingling and their heavy footsteps clattering. Get ready , face them . Jesus, this is it . This time, dear God, protect me. "Get on your feet, tramp , we're coming" . I'm shaking again . Remember your spirit. They won't break that . Keys in the lock, the door is open. Jesus, there must be a dozen of them . "Right,you, let's go" . "I'm...I'm not going". (Laugh all you want you torture mongers). "What did you say ?" .
"I said I'm not going" . (Some day you will all laugh on the other side of your faces). "You're going alright, son. Get him out" ........ (Will finish this paragraph tomorrow).
---- from 'The Writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981.
Interesting fact re the 1994 U S Congressional elections : 193 million people were entitled to vote - but , to vote, you had to register , and 61 million citizens did not bother to register. Of the 132 million registered voters, the number who did vote was only 51 million ; 70 per-cent of the voters felt the system was not worth supporting !
Should the U S Military turn on those in the White House - they are, after all, unrepresentative of the people ....
In January 1856 , that proviso was lifted and John Martin returned to his native County Down , and again involved himself in the struggle - he was an outspoken supporter of the tenants rights movement and , in May 1870, at the age of 58, he helped to found the 'Home Government Association of Ireland' . In 1871 , to the disgust of the British, he was elected MP for Meath.
His good friend and fellow rebel John Mitchel died in March 1875 and, within a fortnight, John Martin died, aged 63 ; he had lived his life as a thorn in the side of "the most abominable tyranny;the British imperial system" . And helped sow the seeds for more thorn bushes ...
"Here they come , keys jingling and their heavy footsteps clattering. Get ready , face them . Jesus, this is it . This time, dear God, protect me. "Get on your feet, tramp , we're coming" . I'm shaking again . Remember your spirit. They won't break that . Keys in the lock, the door is open. Jesus, there must be a dozen of them . "Right,you, let's go" . "I'm...I'm not going". (Laugh all you want you torture mongers). "What did you say ?" .
"I said I'm not going" . (Some day you will all laugh on the other side of your faces). "You're going alright, son. Get him out" ........ (Will finish this paragraph tomorrow).
---- from 'The Writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981.
Interesting fact re the 1994 U S Congressional elections : 193 million people were entitled to vote - but , to vote, you had to register , and 61 million citizens did not bother to register. Of the 132 million registered voters, the number who did vote was only 51 million ; 70 per-cent of the voters felt the system was not worth supporting !
Should the U S Military turn on those in the White House - they are, after all, unrepresentative of the people ....
Thursday, May 22, 2003
...in the first issue of his newspaper 'The Irish Felon', published on 24th June, 1848, John Martin wrote --
"I regard the Act of Union as a usurpation and refuse to acknowledge the authority of the London parliament. So long as such a 'government' presumes to injure and insult me, and those in whose prosperity I am involved, I must offer to it all the resistance in my power. I hope to witness the overthrow , and assist in the overthrow, of the most abominable tyranny the world now groans under- the British imperial system " .
John Martin quickly published a second issue of 'The Irish Felon' , again condemning the British Government and its agents in Ireland, and was arrested, charged with treason and sentenced to ten years in Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) ; he was released six years later (1854) on condition that he stayed out of Ireland , which he did ...... (MORE LATER) >
" A cigarette would be nice. It's so long since I've had a cigarette or warm clothing or slept in a dry bed, I forgot what it's like to live. I must be shocked, I don't even feel the cold any more. I've lost the feeling in my poor tortured feet. It does'nt matter. It won't be long now. It's creeping closer. Two hours. Time waits on no man. I'm exhausted . God, I'm tired. I wish I could lie down and go to sleep , and wake up out of this nightmare. They're watching me again . Keep walking.
...... I feel like the only person left in the world. I'm so isolated . Fear is a terrible thing, but I must keep my head up . My spirit will survive. They expect me to give up , to break down , but they're going to be disappointed . I shall resist. It's only natural that I should be afraid. Who would'nt be ? " .
'The writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981 , first published in 'Republican News',13th January 1979.
Fine Gael's one-time representative on earth , Eoghan Harris (an Irishman who behaves more like a Unionist that the Unionist's themselves) was addressing members of the 'Harbour Action Group'(who they?) on 4th February 1995 when he let rip with this little gem - " Facts are not the truth. The truth is the sense that what is being said is in accordance with the facts. Resist the temptation to tell the facts. Facts are free agents and should be used sparingly ......" (after that I gave up and lost the will to live !). If you want more , see 'The Sunday Tribune', 19th March, 1995 , page 2 - I can't be bothered .....
Christ, Eoghan- it's no wonder you're so well-in with Fine Gael and the other Unionists; you speak their language .....
"I regard the Act of Union as a usurpation and refuse to acknowledge the authority of the London parliament. So long as such a 'government' presumes to injure and insult me, and those in whose prosperity I am involved, I must offer to it all the resistance in my power. I hope to witness the overthrow , and assist in the overthrow, of the most abominable tyranny the world now groans under- the British imperial system " .
John Martin quickly published a second issue of 'The Irish Felon' , again condemning the British Government and its agents in Ireland, and was arrested, charged with treason and sentenced to ten years in Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) ; he was released six years later (1854) on condition that he stayed out of Ireland , which he did ...... (MORE LATER) >
" A cigarette would be nice. It's so long since I've had a cigarette or warm clothing or slept in a dry bed, I forgot what it's like to live. I must be shocked, I don't even feel the cold any more. I've lost the feeling in my poor tortured feet. It does'nt matter. It won't be long now. It's creeping closer. Two hours. Time waits on no man. I'm exhausted . God, I'm tired. I wish I could lie down and go to sleep , and wake up out of this nightmare. They're watching me again . Keep walking.
...... I feel like the only person left in the world. I'm so isolated . Fear is a terrible thing, but I must keep my head up . My spirit will survive. They expect me to give up , to break down , but they're going to be disappointed . I shall resist. It's only natural that I should be afraid. Who would'nt be ? " .
'The writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981 , first published in 'Republican News',13th January 1979.
Fine Gael's one-time representative on earth , Eoghan Harris (an Irishman who behaves more like a Unionist that the Unionist's themselves) was addressing members of the 'Harbour Action Group'(who they?) on 4th February 1995 when he let rip with this little gem - " Facts are not the truth. The truth is the sense that what is being said is in accordance with the facts. Resist the temptation to tell the facts. Facts are free agents and should be used sparingly ......" (after that I gave up and lost the will to live !). If you want more , see 'The Sunday Tribune', 19th March, 1995 , page 2 - I can't be bothered .....
Christ, Eoghan- it's no wonder you're so well-in with Fine Gael and the other Unionists; you speak their language .....
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
..... John Martin and his friend John Mitchel left the 'Repeal Association' and assisted William Smith O'Brien to found the 'Irish Confederation' Movement ......
Also , at this time,the well-known Fenian James Fintan Lalor was agitating on the land issue in Ireland and John Martin wrote articles in support of Lalor's position and had same published in John Mitchel's newspaper , 'The United Irishman' . Mitchel was arrested in 1848 , and his newspaper was shut down ; almost immediately, John Martin founded his own newspaper, which he called 'The Irish Felon' , and continued on where Mitchel's 'paper had been forced to leave off - on 24th June, 1848, he wrote in his first issue :
" I regard the Act of Union as a usurpation and refuse to acknowledge the authority of the London parliament. So long as such a 'government' presumes to injure and insult me , and those in whose prosperity I am involved , I must offer to it all the resistance in my power ...... " (MORE LATER)>
".... key in the door. It's open. Oh dear God.... "Grub up ! What are you gaping at , son ? Take it " . (You'll pay some day,you bastard, you'll pay.) "Don't stir.Take it in, you tramp ". Got it. He's shutting the door. Slam! Keys jingling. They're going, they're leaving. Thank God. Thank God, they've gone. Don't give up hope, there's hope still. Cold food, no knife, no fork, only a plastic spoon. I'm not hungry, my stomach's turning. Nerves again . I must calm down . Meet them with dignity. That's a word:'dignity'. They can't take that from me either.
Naked as I am , treated worse than an animal,I am what I am. They can't and won't change that " .
----- 'The writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981.
On November 19th , 1994 ( a Friday , if memory serves...) Archbishop Carey , the most senior ranking member of the British establishment after the so-called 'royal' family, preached at a live televised service for peace and reconciliation in Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin , stated - " As an English churchman , I am aware of just how much we English need to ask forgiveness for our often brutal domination and crass insensitivity in the 800 years of history of our relationship with Ireland " .
Well said , Sir , but two questions :
1) Did you pass those comments up the line of the British establishment ?
2) Do you not agree that it would be better for you and yours to withdraw from Ireland before asking for "forgiveness" ?
Also , at this time,the well-known Fenian James Fintan Lalor was agitating on the land issue in Ireland and John Martin wrote articles in support of Lalor's position and had same published in John Mitchel's newspaper , 'The United Irishman' . Mitchel was arrested in 1848 , and his newspaper was shut down ; almost immediately, John Martin founded his own newspaper, which he called 'The Irish Felon' , and continued on where Mitchel's 'paper had been forced to leave off - on 24th June, 1848, he wrote in his first issue :
" I regard the Act of Union as a usurpation and refuse to acknowledge the authority of the London parliament. So long as such a 'government' presumes to injure and insult me , and those in whose prosperity I am involved , I must offer to it all the resistance in my power ...... " (MORE LATER)>
".... key in the door. It's open. Oh dear God.... "Grub up ! What are you gaping at , son ? Take it " . (You'll pay some day,you bastard, you'll pay.) "Don't stir.Take it in, you tramp ". Got it. He's shutting the door. Slam! Keys jingling. They're going, they're leaving. Thank God. Thank God, they've gone. Don't give up hope, there's hope still. Cold food, no knife, no fork, only a plastic spoon. I'm not hungry, my stomach's turning. Nerves again . I must calm down . Meet them with dignity. That's a word:'dignity'. They can't take that from me either.
Naked as I am , treated worse than an animal,I am what I am. They can't and won't change that " .
----- 'The writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981.
On November 19th , 1994 ( a Friday , if memory serves...) Archbishop Carey , the most senior ranking member of the British establishment after the so-called 'royal' family, preached at a live televised service for peace and reconciliation in Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin , stated - " As an English churchman , I am aware of just how much we English need to ask forgiveness for our often brutal domination and crass insensitivity in the 800 years of history of our relationship with Ireland " .
Well said , Sir , but two questions :
1) Did you pass those comments up the line of the British establishment ?
2) Do you not agree that it would be better for you and yours to withdraw from Ireland before asking for "forgiveness" ?
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
A child born at Loughborne , near Newry in County Down, on 8th September, 1812, grew up to become a prominent member of the 'Young Ireland' movement, a journalist and a politician ; the mark he left on Irish history is perhaps not as well remembered as it should be .....
The son of a Presbyterian cleric, John Martin was educated in Dr.Hendersons school in Newry, where he 'learned his lessons' with,and from ,the young Fenian John Mitchel ; the two young men were of similar mind in relation to the British presence in their country, and formed a friendship that was to last to the end of their days.
John Martin joined Daniel O'Connell's 'Repeal Association'in the early 1840's , and listened as that organisation and its leadership repeatedly condemned the 'Young Ireland' group, stopping short of labelling them as a 'terrorist' body ; Martin and John Mitchel left the 'Repeal Association' and assisted William Smith O'Brien to found the 'Irish Confederation' movement ..... (MORE LATER)>
" They're watching again. Ignore them. Let on you don't see them.Jesus, its freezing.Its so quiet, its ghostly. Walk again, keep moving, get your body warm. How long left now ? What time is it ? I'm losing track . Have a guess. Five hours left, maybe less. I must be ready . I'm shaking again. Don't fail now . Get it right, they'll be back. I'm depressed ! Jesus Christ ! I'm cracking, I'm going insane.... I wish I had someone to talk to , even for a few minutes.
Keys ! The jingle of keys. Footsteps ! They're coming back. Jesus its not time yet. They've tricked me, they're coming for me now. Don't fail , remember your spirit. "Blessed is he who does not give up his hope" . Jesus , Mary and Joseph , watch over me and protect me. Key in the door. It's open. Oh, dear God..... "
---- 'The writings of Bobby Sands' ,April 1981. (Will finish above paragraph tomorrow).
In a book about the 'Second World War' , author Clive Ponting stated that 74,000 tonnes of German bombs were dropped on Britain, killing 51,000 civilians ; and nearly two million 'allied' bombs were dropped on Germany, killing 600,000 civilians. Henry Stimson, then U S Secretary for War(and not regarded as a sensitive soul) spoke of "the appalling lack of conscience and compassion that the war had brought about, the complacency, the indifference , and the silence with which we greeted the mass bombings in Europe and, above all, Japan " .
Not long after he said the above, the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki , partly on Stimsons orders !
Is it about war and sacrifice that it's said "can make a stone of the heart" ....?
The son of a Presbyterian cleric, John Martin was educated in Dr.Hendersons school in Newry, where he 'learned his lessons' with,and from ,the young Fenian John Mitchel ; the two young men were of similar mind in relation to the British presence in their country, and formed a friendship that was to last to the end of their days.
John Martin joined Daniel O'Connell's 'Repeal Association'in the early 1840's , and listened as that organisation and its leadership repeatedly condemned the 'Young Ireland' group, stopping short of labelling them as a 'terrorist' body ; Martin and John Mitchel left the 'Repeal Association' and assisted William Smith O'Brien to found the 'Irish Confederation' movement ..... (MORE LATER)>
" They're watching again. Ignore them. Let on you don't see them.Jesus, its freezing.Its so quiet, its ghostly. Walk again, keep moving, get your body warm. How long left now ? What time is it ? I'm losing track . Have a guess. Five hours left, maybe less. I must be ready . I'm shaking again. Don't fail now . Get it right, they'll be back. I'm depressed ! Jesus Christ ! I'm cracking, I'm going insane.... I wish I had someone to talk to , even for a few minutes.
Keys ! The jingle of keys. Footsteps ! They're coming back. Jesus its not time yet. They've tricked me, they're coming for me now. Don't fail , remember your spirit. "Blessed is he who does not give up his hope" . Jesus , Mary and Joseph , watch over me and protect me. Key in the door. It's open. Oh, dear God..... "
---- 'The writings of Bobby Sands' ,April 1981. (Will finish above paragraph tomorrow).
In a book about the 'Second World War' , author Clive Ponting stated that 74,000 tonnes of German bombs were dropped on Britain, killing 51,000 civilians ; and nearly two million 'allied' bombs were dropped on Germany, killing 600,000 civilians. Henry Stimson, then U S Secretary for War(and not regarded as a sensitive soul) spoke of "the appalling lack of conscience and compassion that the war had brought about, the complacency, the indifference , and the silence with which we greeted the mass bombings in Europe and, above all, Japan " .
Not long after he said the above, the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki , partly on Stimsons orders !
Is it about war and sacrifice that it's said "can make a stone of the heart" ....?
Monday, May 19, 2003
.... once again , Edward Duffy was arrested by the British - in Mayo , on 11th March 1866, and was locked-up in Mountjoy Jail , Dublin .....
In May 1867 , Edward Duffy was 'tried' before what the British called a 'Special Commission' in Dublin , and sentenced to fifteen years penal servitude ; he was sent under guard to Millbank Prison in England, which he shared with other Fenian and IRB prisoners, including Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa . The Irish prisoners were treated like animals by the British and, being weak from a lung disease, it was too much for Edward Duffy - he died, aged 27, in Millbank Prison in London , on 17th January, 1868.
His body was returned for burial in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin , where he rests today; a proud, committed and resolute Irishman , he deserves to be better remerbered than is the case .
"....a lifetime of worry and hardship that only she knows the entirety and toll of. And I said: "I'm sorry that you have suffered through my sufferings, mother" . As ever, she replied: "Don't be humble. You're my son, and I'll always stand by you" .My father,quiet as always in his own way, stood beside her. "Take heart, son" , he said, "take heart" " .
-----'The Writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981 .
The Indian Chief 'Sitting Bull' could quote Melville and Shakespeare , speak German and Chinese and had studied Caesar on the 'art' of war . His enemies were convinced that he was a white man in disguise ; they found it hard to believe that the leader of a people which they described as "red savages" was better educated than they were .....
At the same time as 'negotiations' were under way with Sitting Bull , U S soldiers threw scalps taken after a massacre of Cheyenne across the stage of the Denver Opera House during the intermission , and received thunderous applause for doing so - "savages" alright .....
In May 1867 , Edward Duffy was 'tried' before what the British called a 'Special Commission' in Dublin , and sentenced to fifteen years penal servitude ; he was sent under guard to Millbank Prison in England, which he shared with other Fenian and IRB prisoners, including Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa . The Irish prisoners were treated like animals by the British and, being weak from a lung disease, it was too much for Edward Duffy - he died, aged 27, in Millbank Prison in London , on 17th January, 1868.
His body was returned for burial in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin , where he rests today; a proud, committed and resolute Irishman , he deserves to be better remerbered than is the case .
"....a lifetime of worry and hardship that only she knows the entirety and toll of. And I said: "I'm sorry that you have suffered through my sufferings, mother" . As ever, she replied: "Don't be humble. You're my son, and I'll always stand by you" .My father,quiet as always in his own way, stood beside her. "Take heart, son" , he said, "take heart" " .
-----'The Writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981 .
The Indian Chief 'Sitting Bull' could quote Melville and Shakespeare , speak German and Chinese and had studied Caesar on the 'art' of war . His enemies were convinced that he was a white man in disguise ; they found it hard to believe that the leader of a people which they described as "red savages" was better educated than they were .....
At the same time as 'negotiations' were under way with Sitting Bull , U S soldiers threw scalps taken after a massacre of Cheyenne across the stage of the Denver Opera House during the intermission , and received thunderous applause for doing so - "savages" alright .....
Sunday, May 18, 2003
..... the two Fenians, Edward Duffy and James Stephens, were arrested by the British in Sandymount , Dublin, on 11th November 1865, and locked-up in Richmond Jail ; but not for long .....
The British released Edward Duffy in January 1866, as they apparently believed he was dying (to let him die in jail would create a martyr)- he suffered constantly from ill-health due to chronic lung trouble ; James Stephens was, by this stage, already a free man as he had escaped two weeks after his arrest (see'1169...' archives) and was in hiding in Dublin.
Edward Duffy effectively took charge of the IRB after James Stephens departed for Paris, in early 1866 and , during the following few months, with the assistance of Ellen O'Leary (John O'Leary's sister) , Duffy planned for a Rising ; again , through the use of informers, the British knew what Duffy was up to and, once more, arrested him, this time in Mayo , on 11th March, 1866 , and locked him up in Mountjoy Jail, Dublin.
In May , 1867 , Edward Duffy was put on 'trial' ..... (MORE LATER)>>
" The smile, the soft warm tender smile of my wife, kept coming up out of the darkness in front of me , and I heard her plaintive gentle voice: "I miss you, and I love you, come home" . And my son lay sleeping like an angel , innocent and unaware of his mother's hardship and loneliness, with no father to tuck him into bed, to love or emulate as he grew; and he sighed as only an innocent sighs, and rolled over in his dreamy sleep.
Then came the faces of my family , my sisters and brother, growing up in my absence. And I knew just how much I loved them , and how I longed to share this short life with them and my poor mother. Lord, my poor tortured mother , grey and marked with a lifetime of worry and hardship that only she knows the entirety and toll of . And I said : ..... " .
(MORE LATER)>>
... a dispute between the U S Army and the Lakota Sioux , over a cow, in 1854, led to thirty-five years of war ...
At around the same time that the war with the Lakota Sioux began, the Santee Sioux were pressed into reservations, having given up twenty-six million acres of land in exchange for barren lands and small cash payments. When the crop failed , the Santee survived on credit from white merchants at the U S Government-run store , but when their credit was cut off they were left to their own devices ie starve. One of the trader's , on hearing of the Santee's plight , responded -"If they are hungry, let them eat grass" .
Soon after, the Santee went on the rampage across Minnesota- the 'let-them-eat-grass' trader's body was found later stuffed with grass in his mouth.
A bit of 'cop-on' , a little bit of humanity, would have solved both the above issues ; the same in Ireland - the conflict will continue so long as the British claim jurisdiction over any part of this Country. After over 800 years, that much should be obvious .
We Irish don't eat grass....
The British released Edward Duffy in January 1866, as they apparently believed he was dying (to let him die in jail would create a martyr)- he suffered constantly from ill-health due to chronic lung trouble ; James Stephens was, by this stage, already a free man as he had escaped two weeks after his arrest (see'1169...' archives) and was in hiding in Dublin.
Edward Duffy effectively took charge of the IRB after James Stephens departed for Paris, in early 1866 and , during the following few months, with the assistance of Ellen O'Leary (John O'Leary's sister) , Duffy planned for a Rising ; again , through the use of informers, the British knew what Duffy was up to and, once more, arrested him, this time in Mayo , on 11th March, 1866 , and locked him up in Mountjoy Jail, Dublin.
In May , 1867 , Edward Duffy was put on 'trial' ..... (MORE LATER)>>
" The smile, the soft warm tender smile of my wife, kept coming up out of the darkness in front of me , and I heard her plaintive gentle voice: "I miss you, and I love you, come home" . And my son lay sleeping like an angel , innocent and unaware of his mother's hardship and loneliness, with no father to tuck him into bed, to love or emulate as he grew; and he sighed as only an innocent sighs, and rolled over in his dreamy sleep.
Then came the faces of my family , my sisters and brother, growing up in my absence. And I knew just how much I loved them , and how I longed to share this short life with them and my poor mother. Lord, my poor tortured mother , grey and marked with a lifetime of worry and hardship that only she knows the entirety and toll of . And I said : ..... " .
(MORE LATER)>>
... a dispute between the U S Army and the Lakota Sioux , over a cow, in 1854, led to thirty-five years of war ...
At around the same time that the war with the Lakota Sioux began, the Santee Sioux were pressed into reservations, having given up twenty-six million acres of land in exchange for barren lands and small cash payments. When the crop failed , the Santee survived on credit from white merchants at the U S Government-run store , but when their credit was cut off they were left to their own devices ie starve. One of the trader's , on hearing of the Santee's plight , responded -"If they are hungry, let them eat grass" .
Soon after, the Santee went on the rampage across Minnesota- the 'let-them-eat-grass' trader's body was found later stuffed with grass in his mouth.
A bit of 'cop-on' , a little bit of humanity, would have solved both the above issues ; the same in Ireland - the conflict will continue so long as the British claim jurisdiction over any part of this Country. After over 800 years, that much should be obvious .
We Irish don't eat grass....
Saturday, May 17, 2003
Yet another Irish rebel not afforded a proper mention in our history books....
A child born at Ballaghadereen , County Mayo, in 1840, grew up to be one of the most determined Irish rebels of his generation ; he was what would be known today as a 'public relations consultant', but did not use his 'people' skills for personal gain - he used his gift in the service of the Irish struggle , which he had devoted himself to.
By 1863, at just 23 years young, Edward Duffy was full-time Organiser for the Fenians in Connaught. In August 1865 , the British launched an offensive against the Fenians and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) - through the use of informers , the British were aware that at least 85,000 rebels were prepared to fight in Ireland under the command of James Stephens, the Fenian leader, who was in contact with supporters in America for arms and equipment for that body of men; trained soldiers in America had also offered their service to the Irish cause.
(Periodicals of the time also mentioned the hundreds of ex-Union and Confederate army men that were in Ireland- a show of strength which worried the British). The IRB's newspaper, 'The Irish People' , was closed down in September 1865 by the British , and Edward Duffy and James Stephens went on the run , but were arrested on 11th November 1865 at Fairfield House in Sandymount, Dublin - both men were locked up in Richmond Jail; but not for long ..... (MORE LATER)>
"My thoughts were of my home and family , my wife and son. I tried to visualise the fading faces of my mother and father whom I have not seen for a long time , whom I fear I will not see again. Then came an old companion of mine: depression !
It tore at my heart and engulfed me with its unseen shroud of misery. The more I thought of home and family, the deeper I plunged into its darkest depths".
----'The writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981 , and first published in 'Republican News' on 6th January 1979. (Will finish above paragraph tomorrow ...)
In 1854, a dispute arose between the U S Army and the Lakota Sioux over the theft of a single cow . The Lakota leader offered two cows to replace it , but the army lieutenant refused the offer, and demanded the surrender of the warrior who had stolen the cow -when his demand was refused , and without any warning, he ordered his soldiers to shoot the Sioux leader, which they did. The ensuing massacre of the soldiers led to 35 years of war !
(MORE LATER)>>
A child born at Ballaghadereen , County Mayo, in 1840, grew up to be one of the most determined Irish rebels of his generation ; he was what would be known today as a 'public relations consultant', but did not use his 'people' skills for personal gain - he used his gift in the service of the Irish struggle , which he had devoted himself to.
By 1863, at just 23 years young, Edward Duffy was full-time Organiser for the Fenians in Connaught. In August 1865 , the British launched an offensive against the Fenians and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) - through the use of informers , the British were aware that at least 85,000 rebels were prepared to fight in Ireland under the command of James Stephens, the Fenian leader, who was in contact with supporters in America for arms and equipment for that body of men; trained soldiers in America had also offered their service to the Irish cause.
(Periodicals of the time also mentioned the hundreds of ex-Union and Confederate army men that were in Ireland- a show of strength which worried the British). The IRB's newspaper, 'The Irish People' , was closed down in September 1865 by the British , and Edward Duffy and James Stephens went on the run , but were arrested on 11th November 1865 at Fairfield House in Sandymount, Dublin - both men were locked up in Richmond Jail; but not for long ..... (MORE LATER)>
"My thoughts were of my home and family , my wife and son. I tried to visualise the fading faces of my mother and father whom I have not seen for a long time , whom I fear I will not see again. Then came an old companion of mine: depression !
It tore at my heart and engulfed me with its unseen shroud of misery. The more I thought of home and family, the deeper I plunged into its darkest depths".
----'The writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981 , and first published in 'Republican News' on 6th January 1979. (Will finish above paragraph tomorrow ...)
In 1854, a dispute arose between the U S Army and the Lakota Sioux over the theft of a single cow . The Lakota leader offered two cows to replace it , but the army lieutenant refused the offer, and demanded the surrender of the warrior who had stolen the cow -when his demand was refused , and without any warning, he ordered his soldiers to shoot the Sioux leader, which they did. The ensuing massacre of the soldiers led to 35 years of war !
(MORE LATER)>>
Friday, May 16, 2003
...after his death in 1820, it was disclosed that Leonard McNally had been an informer against the 'United Irishmen' and the IRB for twenty-six years ....
It also emerged that McNally, who had been passing information to the British since 1794, had used his position with the Irish rebels and the British to make even more money for himself ; He had actually charged the going rate to the rebels he defended in court while at the same time selling their defence details to the British !
This despicable and wretched individual died on the 13th February , 1820 . Roaring , I hope .....
"What is 1066, I think ? Obviously it is me, but I can think, speak, smell and touch . I have all my senses, therefore I am not a number , I am not 1066, I am human, I am not a number, I am not 1066 !. Who , or what, is a'Sir' ? It frightened me. It was evil. I sensed its hatred of me, its eagerness to dominate me, and its potential violent nature. Oh, what will become of me ? I remember I once had a family. Where are thay now ? Will I ever see or hear of them again ? " .
--- from 'The Writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981.
Des Richardson , one of the Fianna Fail back-room 'money men' , launched 'FORUM 2000' in February 1995 ; Bertie Ahern described it as an initiative which- " is a response to the particular requirements of the business sector. Small to medium-sized enterprises will find a voice, a role and a means of contributing to the development of policy in this forum. The interaction between the smaller enterprises and large corporations will contribute to comprehensive and imaginative policies " .
The 'FORUM 2000' intention was to collect £1000 per year from 1000 companies for three years (do the math yourself...).
---- other politicial parties carry out that type of 'fundraising' in a different manner (ie " go round the back door, there, chief , we'll get someone outaya now....").
But full marks to The Soldiers of Destiny - in-your-face , broad daylight and up-front with it : an all-new type of corruption !
It also emerged that McNally, who had been passing information to the British since 1794, had used his position with the Irish rebels and the British to make even more money for himself ; He had actually charged the going rate to the rebels he defended in court while at the same time selling their defence details to the British !
This despicable and wretched individual died on the 13th February , 1820 . Roaring , I hope .....
"What is 1066, I think ? Obviously it is me, but I can think, speak, smell and touch . I have all my senses, therefore I am not a number , I am not 1066, I am human, I am not a number, I am not 1066 !. Who , or what, is a'Sir' ? It frightened me. It was evil. I sensed its hatred of me, its eagerness to dominate me, and its potential violent nature. Oh, what will become of me ? I remember I once had a family. Where are thay now ? Will I ever see or hear of them again ? " .
--- from 'The Writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981.
Des Richardson , one of the Fianna Fail back-room 'money men' , launched 'FORUM 2000' in February 1995 ; Bertie Ahern described it as an initiative which- " is a response to the particular requirements of the business sector. Small to medium-sized enterprises will find a voice, a role and a means of contributing to the development of policy in this forum. The interaction between the smaller enterprises and large corporations will contribute to comprehensive and imaginative policies " .
The 'FORUM 2000' intention was to collect £1000 per year from 1000 companies for three years (do the math yourself...).
---- other politicial parties carry out that type of 'fundraising' in a different manner (ie " go round the back door, there, chief , we'll get someone outaya now....").
But full marks to The Soldiers of Destiny - in-your-face , broad daylight and up-front with it : an all-new type of corruption !
Thursday, May 15, 2003
....the informer Leonard McNally , a Dublin man, signed himself 'J W' in all dealings he had with his British paymasters , in a 'career' which lasted twenty-six years (!) until he died at 68 years of age , in 1820....
The last dirty deed he carried out on the 'United Irishmen'was to have them bury him as a patriot , as it was not known then that the man was an informer. He received fine oratory and all the trappings befitting a rebel leader.
It was only when McNally's son put in a claim to the British for the continuation of the £300 per annum 'Secret Service' pension, which his father had been in receipt of for the previous twenty-two years, that the facts about Leonard McNally became known : indeed, it was due to the fact that the then British Lord Lieutenant practically shouted from the rooftops that he had not known that the pension was authorised that it became such a public matter.
And then more 'dirt' came out about the informer McNally..... (MORE LATER)>>
" ....it is watching me. More noise directly outside my tomb , a rattle of metal against metal. A square form of light begins to materialise , revealing an entrance as a door swings open. A figure stands in the grey dim light of the doorway. It is a human figure , dressed in what appears to be some sort of black uniform. It stands scrutinising me in silence for several seconds, before letting out a terrifying yell that sends shivers through my body .
" I am Sir!". The words echo around my tomb. " I am Sir!" it bellows again. " I am Sir,you are 1066" . The door slams shut with a loud explosive boom , killing the dim light where the entrance had been. Still afraid to move, I stand in the total darkness " .
---- 'The Writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981.
Speaking at the so-called 'Forum for Peace and Reconciliation' in Dublin Castle on Friday February 10th , 1995, Ulster Unionist Party member Roy Garland stated that he had been a "leading Officer" in the TARA group, which he described as a "paramilitary group" which was "led by evangelical Christians" !
-- Lord save us , Roy - we believe ya .....
The last dirty deed he carried out on the 'United Irishmen'was to have them bury him as a patriot , as it was not known then that the man was an informer. He received fine oratory and all the trappings befitting a rebel leader.
It was only when McNally's son put in a claim to the British for the continuation of the £300 per annum 'Secret Service' pension, which his father had been in receipt of for the previous twenty-two years, that the facts about Leonard McNally became known : indeed, it was due to the fact that the then British Lord Lieutenant practically shouted from the rooftops that he had not known that the pension was authorised that it became such a public matter.
And then more 'dirt' came out about the informer McNally..... (MORE LATER)>>
" ....it is watching me. More noise directly outside my tomb , a rattle of metal against metal. A square form of light begins to materialise , revealing an entrance as a door swings open. A figure stands in the grey dim light of the doorway. It is a human figure , dressed in what appears to be some sort of black uniform. It stands scrutinising me in silence for several seconds, before letting out a terrifying yell that sends shivers through my body .
" I am Sir!". The words echo around my tomb. " I am Sir!" it bellows again. " I am Sir,you are 1066" . The door slams shut with a loud explosive boom , killing the dim light where the entrance had been. Still afraid to move, I stand in the total darkness " .
---- 'The Writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981.
Speaking at the so-called 'Forum for Peace and Reconciliation' in Dublin Castle on Friday February 10th , 1995, Ulster Unionist Party member Roy Garland stated that he had been a "leading Officer" in the TARA group, which he described as a "paramilitary group" which was "led by evangelical Christians" !
-- Lord save us , Roy - we believe ya .....
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
The British , no doubt wary of all their informers and having no respect for any of them anyway, refused to take McNally fully into their confidence ; he was aware that the United Irishmen knew there was an informer in their midst and were actively looking for said informer. McNally's nerve snapped and , in 1798, he asked his British paymasters for help ; they settled his nerves by offering him £300 a year for his 'service' , and he returned to his 'work' for them , within the top ranks of the rebel movement.
Between the years 1794 and 1820 , not suspected for one minute by his 'comrades' in the United Irishmen, McNally shopped people to the British , pointed out 'safe houses' , ruined missions and ensured that funds were 'discovered' by Dublin Castle. All his communications and dealings with the British were done under the initials 'JW' . (MORE LATER)>
"I can hear heavy booming noises echoing all around me like thunder.Somehow it reminds me of heavy doors closing. I check the four walls of my tomb;there appears to be some sort of a door in one of the walls. I can't understand my being here. What , I wonder, will become of me? I know I am a human being, although I'm naked and bearded . I can think and breath. Am I in hell or some sort of limbo ? I can hear heavy footsteps approaching. They stop quite near to me. There is someone or something nearby. I can hear it moving and breathing . It is watching me . "
----from 'The writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981 - more tomorrow.....
From an article in 'Fortnight' magazine , issue 335 , January 1995 , page 5 (by Robin Wilson , Editor of same) -
"During 1994... Gerry Adams said the difference between himself and Michael Collins was that Mr. Collins had'nt got rid of partition" .
------- thats the type of bull that keeps the new members happy , Gerry - its now almost ten years since you made that statement: have those new members copped on yet ?
Also , at the Provisional Sinn Fein Ard Fheis of that same year when partition ended (ie 1994 !) , Joe Cahill took to the platform and declared that 'Tiocfaidh ar la' was redundant - " because our day HAS come " .
"our Day" was never about the establishment of a British parliament in Ireland , Joe, regardless of whether it functions or not !
Between the years 1794 and 1820 , not suspected for one minute by his 'comrades' in the United Irishmen, McNally shopped people to the British , pointed out 'safe houses' , ruined missions and ensured that funds were 'discovered' by Dublin Castle. All his communications and dealings with the British were done under the initials 'JW' . (MORE LATER)>
"I can hear heavy booming noises echoing all around me like thunder.Somehow it reminds me of heavy doors closing. I check the four walls of my tomb;there appears to be some sort of a door in one of the walls. I can't understand my being here. What , I wonder, will become of me? I know I am a human being, although I'm naked and bearded . I can think and breath. Am I in hell or some sort of limbo ? I can hear heavy footsteps approaching. They stop quite near to me. There is someone or something nearby. I can hear it moving and breathing . It is watching me . "
----from 'The writings of Bobby Sands' , April 1981 - more tomorrow.....
From an article in 'Fortnight' magazine , issue 335 , January 1995 , page 5 (by Robin Wilson , Editor of same) -
"During 1994... Gerry Adams said the difference between himself and Michael Collins was that Mr. Collins had'nt got rid of partition" .
------- thats the type of bull that keeps the new members happy , Gerry - its now almost ten years since you made that statement: have those new members copped on yet ?
Also , at the Provisional Sinn Fein Ard Fheis of that same year when partition ended (ie 1994 !) , Joe Cahill took to the platform and declared that 'Tiocfaidh ar la' was redundant - " because our day HAS come " .
"our Day" was never about the establishment of a British parliament in Ireland , Joe, regardless of whether it functions or not !
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
Informers , double-agents , touts and 'Steak-Knife' ; not a new development , as I have recorded here before and, now, do so again -
A man born in Dublin in 1752 went on to become one of the most notorious Irishmen ever to involve himself in the struggle....
Leonard McNally moved to England while still a young man and studied to be a barrister;when he 'took silk' and registered himself as a practising barrister , his friend John Philpot Curran persuaded him to transfer his business to the Irish Bar, which he did. McNally made his name with the United Irishmen in his defence in court of William Jackson , Napper Tandy , Wolfe Tone and , later, Robert Emmet and many other Rebel leaders - however , he apparently got rattled when the British arrested the French Government representative, William Jackson, in April 1794, and approached the British 'authorities' in Dublin Castle and offered to pass on information to them in return for 'safe passage' from them for himself. They readily agreed . (MORE LATER)>>
" I must have died last night , because when I awoke this morning I was in hell. I don't really know how I got here. I don't think I've done anything to deserve being here. But I am here, and I am suffering terribly. I think I am in some sort of tomb. I can not see, as everywhere is in total darkness . I have no clothes on , except some sort of rag around my waist.The floor of my tomb is covered in a wet mushy substance , the source or nature of which I don't know. There is a revolting stench lingering in the darkness and the air is warm , heavy and humid. There is something soft and damp lying in the corner , which seems to be some sort of bedding to lie upon " .
-----From 'The Writings of Bobby Sands' ,April 1981 , and first published in 'Republican News' on July 1st, 1978 . (Will finish the rest of above paragraph tomorrow....).
In one of his many print rambles at the time ,John Junor used his then column in 'The Mail on Sunday' (see same,February 24th, 1991, page 19), which he titled 'Lock up the evil bomb-makers' , to call for the re-introduction of internment ; he finished the article by saying- " And if that shoddy third-rater Mr Charles Haughey splutters , as he will , in protest, tell him to get stuffed" .
"shoddy" ? - surely not ....
A man born in Dublin in 1752 went on to become one of the most notorious Irishmen ever to involve himself in the struggle....
Leonard McNally moved to England while still a young man and studied to be a barrister;when he 'took silk' and registered himself as a practising barrister , his friend John Philpot Curran persuaded him to transfer his business to the Irish Bar, which he did. McNally made his name with the United Irishmen in his defence in court of William Jackson , Napper Tandy , Wolfe Tone and , later, Robert Emmet and many other Rebel leaders - however , he apparently got rattled when the British arrested the French Government representative, William Jackson, in April 1794, and approached the British 'authorities' in Dublin Castle and offered to pass on information to them in return for 'safe passage' from them for himself. They readily agreed . (MORE LATER)>>
" I must have died last night , because when I awoke this morning I was in hell. I don't really know how I got here. I don't think I've done anything to deserve being here. But I am here, and I am suffering terribly. I think I am in some sort of tomb. I can not see, as everywhere is in total darkness . I have no clothes on , except some sort of rag around my waist.The floor of my tomb is covered in a wet mushy substance , the source or nature of which I don't know. There is a revolting stench lingering in the darkness and the air is warm , heavy and humid. There is something soft and damp lying in the corner , which seems to be some sort of bedding to lie upon " .
-----From 'The Writings of Bobby Sands' ,April 1981 , and first published in 'Republican News' on July 1st, 1978 . (Will finish the rest of above paragraph tomorrow....).
In one of his many print rambles at the time ,John Junor used his then column in 'The Mail on Sunday' (see same,February 24th, 1991, page 19), which he titled 'Lock up the evil bomb-makers' , to call for the re-introduction of internment ; he finished the article by saying- " And if that shoddy third-rater Mr Charles Haughey splutters , as he will , in protest, tell him to get stuffed" .
"shoddy" ? - surely not ....
Monday, May 12, 2003
.....in April 1883, in Green Street Courthouse in Dublin, Judge O'Brien began to hear 'evidence' against thirteen men....
Five of the men - Joe Brady, Dan Curley , Michael Fagan , Thomas Caffrey and Tim Kelly - received the death sentence and the other eight men were sentenced to long periods of imprisonment. (Nineteen year-old Tim Kelly faced three 'trials' before eventually convicted, the jury at the previous'trials' having failed to agree).
Joe Brady , Michael Fagan , Thomas Caffrey , Dan Curley and young Tim Kelly were hanged in Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin between May 14th and June 4th, 1883. One of the informers, James Carey, was shot dead on board the 'Melrose Castle' off Capetown, South Africa, on July 29th, 1883, by Donegal-man Patrick O Donnell ; he was caught and escorted back to Ireland , where he was executed on December 17th, 1883.
Compare the above , and the following paragraph, with the cringe-inducing pleadings of those that claim to be following the footsteps of men like 'the Invincibles' and Bobby Sands ; disgusting.
"....I'm left to pass the day like this, from 7.30 am to 8.30 pm . How I spend my day is determined by the weather. If it's reasonably warm, its possible to sit on the floor,stare at the white walls and pass a few hours day-dreaming. But otherwise,I must spend my day continuously pacing the cell to prevent the cold chilling through to my bones.
Even after my bedding is returned at 8.30 pm , hours will pass before the circulation returns to my feet and legs " .
From 'The Evening Press' newspaper, November 2nd, 1989, page 7 -
In an interview with the 'Ballyfermot People' local 'paper, (the late) Brian Lenihan described Maggie Thatcher as "too ideological" : that from a member of a party which hangs it's backbone up with its coat in the morning ...
Brian went on to describe his (then) good buddy , Charlie Haughey, as "a very flexible politician , much more subtle and intelligent a politician than Thatcher. Charlie is very much on the same line as many continental politicians.If he has any failing its that sometimes in politics you can be too subtle, too clever, too intelligent. That can happen " .
--- he certainly took you for a ride , Brian - now Bertie is taking your fellow Fianna Fail cronies for one !
Five of the men - Joe Brady, Dan Curley , Michael Fagan , Thomas Caffrey and Tim Kelly - received the death sentence and the other eight men were sentenced to long periods of imprisonment. (Nineteen year-old Tim Kelly faced three 'trials' before eventually convicted, the jury at the previous'trials' having failed to agree).
Joe Brady , Michael Fagan , Thomas Caffrey , Dan Curley and young Tim Kelly were hanged in Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin between May 14th and June 4th, 1883. One of the informers, James Carey, was shot dead on board the 'Melrose Castle' off Capetown, South Africa, on July 29th, 1883, by Donegal-man Patrick O Donnell ; he was caught and escorted back to Ireland , where he was executed on December 17th, 1883.
Compare the above , and the following paragraph, with the cringe-inducing pleadings of those that claim to be following the footsteps of men like 'the Invincibles' and Bobby Sands ; disgusting.
"....I'm left to pass the day like this, from 7.30 am to 8.30 pm . How I spend my day is determined by the weather. If it's reasonably warm, its possible to sit on the floor,stare at the white walls and pass a few hours day-dreaming. But otherwise,I must spend my day continuously pacing the cell to prevent the cold chilling through to my bones.
Even after my bedding is returned at 8.30 pm , hours will pass before the circulation returns to my feet and legs " .
From 'The Evening Press' newspaper, November 2nd, 1989, page 7 -
In an interview with the 'Ballyfermot People' local 'paper, (the late) Brian Lenihan described Maggie Thatcher as "too ideological" : that from a member of a party which hangs it's backbone up with its coat in the morning ...
Brian went on to describe his (then) good buddy , Charlie Haughey, as "a very flexible politician , much more subtle and intelligent a politician than Thatcher. Charlie is very much on the same line as many continental politicians.If he has any failing its that sometimes in politics you can be too subtle, too clever, too intelligent. That can happen " .
--- he certainly took you for a ride , Brian - now Bertie is taking your fellow Fianna Fail cronies for one !
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