Saturday, January 31, 2004

DINNY LACEY , 1890 - 1923 ; IRA GUERRILLA FIGHTER .


....... 6th December 1921 ; the 'Treaty of Surrender' is signed in Downing Street , London . The IRA splits . A few men left Dinny Lacey's IRA Flying Column , but the majority stayed true .......


The 3rd Tipperary Brigade IRA , with Dinny Lacey in command , hit hard ; in the months following the December 1921 sell-out , Lacey's Unit raided the Free State Barracks in Clonmel , County Tipperary , and removed all the equipment (weapons , ammunition etc) they wanted , with the result that they were now 'kitted-out' even better than before .

Dinny Lacey and his men controlled the North Munster area to such a degree that it was practically a 'no-go' zone for the Free Staters , and stayed that way for most of 1922 . Also , during that same year , the townlands around Carrick-on-Suir (outside Clonmel , County Tipperary) were controlled by Dinny Lacey's Unit until December(1922) when the Free State Army forced them out .

The Free State Administration in Dublin's Leinster House had had enough ; they sent a force of approximately one-thousand Free State troops into the area where Dinny Lacey and the 3rd Tipperary Brigade operated from , under orders to hunt the IRA Unit down ....... (MORE LATER).




WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


A QUIET PERIOD.......




".......We all lined up in the pub to taste the whiskey that cures influenza . After the first sip , we looked at each other . Then Eamon , having tasted the 'magic brew' , made a noise ......."



" " DAMMIT ! " " DAMMIT ! " , Eamon said again , as he placed his glass sharply on the bar , " who put the whiskey in the water ? " So saying , he turned and walked out the door . Smothering laughter as best they could , all hurriedly replaced their glasses on the counter and followed suit . In the open they gave vent to their feelings . It was some time since they had indulged in a hearty laugh . Now they had the opportunity . The weakest stuff they had ever tasted , 'aqua pura' almost , had proved a better tonic than the most potent !

The holidays over , I returned to Rockwell College . Here , so far , we had seen no sign of the influenza . Within a fortnight it had a firm grip on the place . It was milder than the earlier form of the epidemic , but it caused the death of one student . With a few others , I managed to keep on my feet and we were allowed home . It was near the beginning of March when we were recalled again . Since we had lost a good deal of time we were granted no Easter holidays and we worked on to examination time at the beginning of June . Meanwhile , events of great political importance had happened .

The greatest event was the assembling of the First Dail Eireann or Irish Parliament , on 21st January 1919 . Sinn Fein had contested the General Election on an abstention from Westminster policy and a guarantee to set up our own assembly ......." (MORE LATER).



FERDINAND and IMELDA MARCOS ;

A specially-blended , gold-scented lifestyle in the PHILIPPINES .

(From a 'Hot Press' magazine article by Gordon Thomas , 1988 .)

(6 of 12).



Imelda Marcos had 550 black bras - Cory Aquino has had them all counted - 200 boxes of stockings and 300 boxes of girdles (all made in Manchester , England) . In a corner of Imelda's bedroom is a pile of 400 cartons containing over 2,500 handbags . They were specially made for her by 'Gucci' and other designers . Some have never been used . They are valued at £937,000 .

To pay for these excesses , Imelda Marcos used the Philippines National Bank as if it were her personal charge account . Imelda had once lived on the breadline herself . She was raised in a garage in Manila , where she and her mother slept on planks balanced on milk crates . They relied on the charity of a Catholic foundation to survive ........ (MORE LATER).



Friday, January 30, 2004

DINNY LACEY , 1890 - 1923 ; IRA GUERRILLA FIGHTER .


.......as Officer Commanding of the IRA's 3rd Tipperary Brigade No. 1 Flying Column , Dinny Lacey took the fight to the British.......



He knew the countryside extremely well and had learned much from Sean Treacy - he hit and disappeared ; three Brit soldiers killed and five wounded at Thomastown (October 1920), two RIC men killed and two wounded at Lisnagaul (November 1920).

He was also known to be tough with his own men , and did not suffer fools , but never asked anything of them which he was not willing to do himself .

When the 'Treaty of Surrender' was signed at Downing Street in London on 6th December 1921 , Dinny Lacey and his men were living 'on the run' ; a handful of his Unit left , two or three of whom joined the Free State Army , with the same number of men just going home . The majority of the IRA Flying Column stayed true , and carried on with the fight for a 32 County Socialist Irish Republic and , as with their fight against the Brits , they did'nt wait to be attacked - they took the fight to the Free Staters ....... (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


A QUIET PERIOD.......





".......On the way home from a funeral , a group of IRA Volunteers and some friends of theirs stopped-off in a pub which was said to sell a 'special' whiskey which cured influenza . One of the Volunteers , Eamon , was the only one of the group to have tasted whiskey before ......."


" Having once discovered the characteristics of anything , there was little danger that Eamon would keep the knowledge to himself . In other words , he was very outspoken . The publican busied himself with spigot and measure , and soon a row of glasses was ranged along the bar . An oldish man of the neighbours took his glass and , raising it , said " Slainte ! "

Every man grasped his drink and repeated " Slainte ! " All , excepting Eamon , tasted it and lowered their glasses at once . Eyes were cautiously turned right or left , and then slowly left or right . Most of the Volunteers looked puzzled and they tasted again . They had expected that at least it would make them cough . The older men regarded each other , some with a sorrowful look , some with a grim smile . It was their unspoken verdict .

But what would Eamon's verdict be ? Would he accuse the publican directly of putting water in the whiskey ? A loud exclamation focused all eyes on Eamon . He also had tasted ......." (MORE LATER).



FERDINAND and IMELDA MARCOS ;

A specially-blended , gold-scented lifestyle in the PHILIPPINES .

(From a 'Hot Press' magazine article by Gordon Thomas , 1988 .)

(5 of 12).


Cory Aquino has insisted that the palace must remain exactly as it was on that February night two years ago when Marcos and his wife fled for their lives - an extraordinary combination of priceless European antiques and plastic dimestore trash .

There are medieval cabinets from Bavaria , each hand-carved and painted , filled with buttons saying 'Marcos For President'. There is a Renaissance credenza , valued at £590,000 , whose top is covered with packets of pop-corn at 10p a packet . A Cartier jewel box is stuffed with junk jewellery . Outfits created by Emmanuel Ungaro for Imelda are crammed alongside a thousand pairs of her undies .......

(MORE LATER).


Thursday, January 29, 2004

DINNY LACEY , 1890 - 1923 ; IRA GUERRILLA FIGHTER .


....... In 1914 , at twenty-four years young , Dinny Lacey was sworn in to The Irish Republican Brotherhood by Sean Treacy .......



It was Dinny Lacey , Sean Treacy and Dan Breen that organised a much-feared Unit in Tipperary which sought-out the enemy ; Dinny Lacey , in particular , was known to be deeply angry that the 1916 Rising had not taken hold in the rest of the country as much as it had in Dublin . He wanted confrontation with the British , and had no time for 'letting things lie'-- he was in good company !

The Tipperary area was well-organised from an Irish Republican point-of-view ; the IRA were so strong in the area that they were able to set-up and run two small ammunition factories - one each in Knockharding and Shrough . Dinny Lacey was appointed 'Officer Commanding' of the 3rd Tipperary Brigade No. 1 Flying Column , which controlled the South Munster area - it was Sean Treacy's position , but he had been shot dead by the Brits in Dublin .

Dinny Lacey and his ' Flying Column' IRA Unit were relentless in their pursuit of the British ....... (MORE LATER).




WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


A QUIET PERIOD.......




".......the influenza epidemic was killing people in the country ; many 'cures' were proposed - one of them was whiskey ......."


" I have authority of rumour that at least one publican , entirely devoted to the health and welfare of the general public , evolved a laborious scientific process to ensure that each and every member of his increasing clientele would have at least some small percentage of his life-saving aqua vitae .

On this particular evening , a group of IRA Volunteers and neighbours , on their way home from a funeral , stopped outside his premises . They were tired , and weary from want of sleep . They decided to try some tonic to keep up their spirits . One of the neighbours spoke to the Volunteers : " I know ye do not take strong drink , lads , but by all accounts the whiskey here will do ye no harm . "

All entered the pub and stood alongside the bar . Soon it transpired that there was no other drink in the house but whiskey . After a little discussion , everyone , teetotallers and all , decided to sample the elixir . Standing at the bar , midway in the line of men , was a Volunteer whose Christian name was Eamon . He had already tasted whiskey , a few times , just enough to know what it should taste like ......." (MORE LATER).



FERDINAND and IMELDA MARCOS ;

A specially-blended , gold-scented lifestyle in the PHILIPPINES .

(From a 'Hot Press' magazine article by Gordon Thomas , 1988 .)

(4 of 12).



Exiled now (ie 1988) in Hawaii - though with untold millions of pounds stashed in Swiss bank accounts - the couple continue to plot and scheme to return to Malacanang , their palace . They actually believe they will do so ; that there is a growing ground-swell of Filippinos who would like them back .

Which may explain why President Cory Aquino has ordered that Malacanang should at last be opened to the public -- to show Filippinos how , as they struggled to live on an average annual income of £100 a year , Imelda Marcos spent that much a minute ! For instance , on specially-blended perfumes from Dior and Roches , which she ordered in two-litre bottles ....

Each bottle cost £40,000 ; there are 97 on display in her bedroom ....... (MORE LATER).



Wednesday, January 28, 2004

DINNY LACEY , 1890 - 1923 ; IRA GUERRILLA FIGHTER .



In the small town of Attybrack , near Annacarty , in County Tipperary , a child born in the year 1890 was to know of no other way of life except that of with a gun in both hands .......

At about twenty-three years young , Dinny Lacey joined the 'Irish Volunteers' and met , amongst others , Sean Treacy (six years later [ie 1919] that same man , Sean Treacy , was one of the two IRA leaders [the other being Dan Breen] that shot two RIC men dead in Soloheadbeg in County Tipperary - the IRA wanted the quantity of gelignite which the British 'policemen' were guarding . Sean Treacy was himself shot dead in Dublin's Talbot Street on 15th October 1920 , by a British intelligence officer named Price).

It was through Sean Treacy that Dinny Lacey was sworn in to The Irish Republican Brotherhood (in 1914) ....... (MORE LATER).




WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


A QUIET PERIOD.......




"....... I was home from Rockwell College for the Christmas holidays when the results of the 1918 Election became known . I felt safe there from the influenza which was on the rampage through Europe ....... "


" But the influenza had killed a few of the Volunteers in our district . The Volunteers and Cumann na mBan had helped the people immensely . Where an entire household became ill , or were otherwise handicapped , units from each organisation took over the duties of nursing , heating and food supply until the family was on its feet again .

Their fearless and efficient assistance won the hearts of people hitherto bitterly opposed to them . Undoubtedly they saved many lives , and where necessary they helped to coffin and bury the dead . I heard the tale of disaster with regret , since all the victims were my neighbours and comrades . To cheer me up , other contemporary incidents were related .

During the epidemic , many remedies and medicines were tested and suggested . Whether or not it was suggested by the medical profession , or at a meeting of shareholders , I cannot tell , but whiskey proved , if not an effective , at least a popular and palatable medicine ! Nor have I any evidence to show that even a single dealer , licensed or otherwise , audibly expressed the opinion that it was worthless ......." (MORE LATER).




FERDINAND and IMELDA MARCOS ;

A specially-blended , gold-scented lifestyle in the PHILIPPINES .

(From a 'Hot Press' magazine article by Gordon Thomas , 1988 .)

(3 of 12).



Until today (ie 1988) the private tastes and whims of the couple have remained a matter for speculation . But the truth is more mind-boggling than any gossip . The couple were not only public monsters , pillaging everything , and from everybody , they could . They were also house devils , living out a rancid fantasy life together .

" They hated each other , fighting like tigers . It was money and greed that glued them together , " said their former butler , Mike Pedrosa , " she would chase him up and down stairs until he locked himself in his quarters - screaming for his doctors to sedate her . "

In the palace basement was a private hospital where both Imelda and her husband were often treated until they calmed down . It had six doctors and twelve nurses on round-the-clock duty . The cost of running the clinic came to over £1 Million Punts (one-and-a-quarter million Euros approximately) a year ....... (MORE LATER).



Tuesday, January 27, 2004

BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .......



.......The British propaganda sheet ' The Weekly Summary ' encouraged the British policy in Ireland of 'shoot-to-kill' ; between January 1921 and March 1921 , twenty-six IRA Volunteers were shot dead . The Brit 'newspaper' wanted more of the same .......


'The Weekly Summary' described the Irish Republican foe as " crime incarnate(for whom) the rope and bullet are all too good . " It called for the Black and Tans and the RIC " to use force to the uttermost , to use force without stint ...." (ie British Government clearance for 'shoot-to-kill' operations).

Approximately twenty-three issues of this black propaganda 'newspaper' were published between the last week in January 1921 and July of that year ; publication was suspended (as a "goodwill gesture" ?) while the Brits were in negotiation with the Irish Rebels (from which the 'Treaty of Surrender' came). After the Brits had purchased enough of their old enemy to satisfactorily enforce their 'writ' in Ireland , they had no need for their propagandist 'newspaper' , and it was never re-published .

The Free Staters carried-on the propaganda war for their pay-masters in Britain . And do so to this day .......


[END of....BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .......]




WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


A QUIET PERIOD.......




".......There was a stirring in the people ; politically , they were dis-regarding the old careerists . They were weary of them and their futile speeches ......."


" In the atmosphere of Rockwell College I soon discovered a strong national spirit and a great love for the Irish language . It prevailed alike amongst the College authorities , the teaching staff and the students .

There was even a link with the Fenians , in one old lay brother . He was very old but his spirit was still young . Up to the last he was still the unrepentant Fenian . In December 1918 , he insisted on walking some miles to record his vote in the General Eection .

It was a vote against the parliamentarians and for his own comrades , the Fenians or Volunteers , and he made that very clear . The results of the General Election emphasised the same condition , for Sinn Fein swept the board and only a few " floor-of-the-House-men" were left .

I was at home for the Christmas holidays when the results became known . I was glad to get home since I had heard of the ravages of the Influenza which had swept over Europe after the great war ........" (MORE LATER).



FERDINAND and IMELDA MARCOS ;

A specially-blended , gold-scented lifestyle in the PHILIPPINES .

(From a 'Hot Press' magazine article by Gordon Thomas , 1988 .)

(2 of 12).



Alongside the dresses are forty cartons of the anti-wrinkle cream she daubed on her face every night . Enough remains to last one-thousand other women another five years !

Her private bath suite is made of solid gold : gold basin , bath , shower , even a gold loo seat . Its melt-down value is said to be around £5 Million Punts (approximately six-and-a-half million Euro).

In contrast , Ferdinand's squalid bedroom still has blood on the sheets and dirty nappies on the floor . He suffered from incontinence and wore 'Pampers' to maintain some dignity . Cupboards of unused nappies remain . The air in the bedroom is still sour .

A glimpse inside their wardrobes reveal rails of funeral-black suits and trays of old-fashioned kipper ties , hundreds of shirts and bundles of rubber underpants ........ (MORE LATER).


Monday, January 26, 2004

BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .......



....... British 'Sir' Hamar Greenwood and his fellow budding-'press baron' friend , Basil Clarke , had instructed their boot-boys in the Black and Tans to close down newspapers which they did not agree with - The Westmeath Independent , The Kerry Weekly Reporter , The Kerryman , The Leitrim Observer .......


The British propaganda 'newspaper' 'The Weekly Summary' stated that its objective was " to raise the morale of the police(sic)force in Ireland " to such a high level that the country " would be a hell for rebels to live in . "

Week after week , Greenwood's propaganda sheet carried completely fictitious accounts of gun-battles and victories over (non-existent) " IRA gangs " , in an obvious attempt to goad the British crown forces into getting their retaliation in first ....

Houses , shops , factories and farms which were looted by the Brits before , in some cases , being burned to the ground , were described in ' The Weekly Summary ' as " safe-houses" and/or " arms dumps " for the " terrorists " -- in reality they were nothing of the sort ; the British were in fact carrying-out 'officially' approved reprisals for IRA actions , real or imagined , and Greenwood's 'newspaper' was a willing propaganda vehicle to cover-up the truth .

Between the last week in January 1921 and the middle of March 1921 , twenty-six IRA Volunteers were shot dead by the Tans and the RIC ; 'The Weekly Summary' wanted a higher body-count....... (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


A QUIET PERIOD.......




"....... September 1918 ; I was going to Rockwell College in Tipperary . I gave my revolver and ammunition to my comrade , 'LOUTH' , for safe-keeping ......."


" I felt , I believe , more lonely than the average youth going to a boarding school for the first time . I had heard and read and seen a little of our country's long struggle for freedom , and longed for the day when I could take a man's part in it .

I knew that that day could not now be very distant . In the meantime , during the quiet period , I would submit to the bondage of learning . It might also be described as a political period . Sinn Fein had already taken three seats , in by-elections , from 'The Irish Party' which attended the British parliament at Westminster .

It was an indication of coming events . It showed how weary the people had grown of sending representatives to make futile speeches on the " floor of the House " . For practical purposes , they might as well have been engaged at sweeping the floor ....... " (MORE LATER).





FERDINAND and IMELDA MARCOS ;

A specially-blended , gold-scented lifestyle in the PHILIPPINES .

(From a 'Hot Press' magazine article by Gordon Thomas , 1988 .)

(1 of 12).



For twenty-one bizarre years (1965-1986) Imelda Marcos and her husband Ferdinand led fantasy lives in a now spooky palace called 'Malacanang' . She spent her time thinking up new ways to spend the colossal fortune - it exceeded £10 Billion Pounds - that her husband amassed through plunder , corruption and mis-rule .

Their former 'home' resembles a crazy department store , with Salvador Dali , Fellini and perhaps Michael Jackson as its chief buyers ! In her private basement suite there are 3,156 pairs of her shoes , each custom-made and estimated to have cost between £500 and £1000 a pair . Those she used for dancing are equipped with sockets , enabling them to be plugged into the power-points to recharge the strobe lighting-tubes built into the toe-cap !

There are two-thousand dresses - morning , afternoon and ball - costing anything from £5000 to £50,000 each . One particular ballgown with more gold threads than the Pope's Coronation Robe , cost £300,000 ....... (MORE LATER).



Sunday, January 25, 2004

BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .......


.......the ' Westmeath Independent ' newspaper was torched by Basil Clarke and the Black and Tans in June 1920 ; it was not the only newspaper to be 'censored' by the Brits in Dublin Castle .......


The ' Kerry Weekly Reporter ' newspaper had Offices in Russell Street and at the 'Market' area in Tralee - the Black and Tans burnt them down in 1920. In April , 1921 ,the Kerry Commander of the British Auxiliaries , a Westminster-funded terror gang , was killed by the IRA .

His men , all armed , burst into the Offices of 'The Kerryman' newspaper and demanded that the newspaper be printed with black bordered columns as a " mark of respect " to the dead Brit terrorist ; the management refused , and the newspaper's printing-works were destroyed by the Brits - it was the summer of 1923 before 'The Kerryman' newspaper resumed publication .

In Carrick-on-Shannon , the Offices of 'The Leitrim Observer' newspaper met a similar fate at the hands of the British thugs . Mr Basil Clarke and his boss , 'Sir' Hamar Greenwood , took their jobs , and their chance for promotion , seriously ....... (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


A QUIET PERIOD.......




".......When the British Government introduced 'The Conscription Bill' on 16th April 1918 , recruits flocked to the IRA - the people were scared . But people have short memories ......."


" It was merely a temporary hosting , like that of King Wire's donkey . King Wire was an expert manufacturer of wire goods - muzzles , strainers and the like , who attended every horse fair in the south of Ireland . While he walked through the throng of people and horses , he worked unceasingly with hands and pliers on the roll of wire slung over one shoulder .

When his feet stopped he bought donkeys . Thus while his eyes surveyed his prospective purchase , and his tongue got busy to bargain with a fine humour , his hands never rested . No donkey on the market went home unsold . All went into his carelessly-kept herd . One evening in Macroom I remarked to him : " You have a big stock today , King ." " Most of those will have departed by morning , " he replied ......


Early in September , 1918 , I left home for Rockwell College in County Tipperary . On the evening before I left , I handed over my revolver and ammunition to my comrade , Louth , who promised to keep them safely for me ......." (MORE LATER).



BHOPAL.......




(From an article by Richard Douthwaite , published in 'ALPHA' magazine , 30th March 1989 , page 10).

(3 of 3).


Apart from the problems of bureacratic delays and the near-certainty of corruption , the government can recover all its expenses from the compensation sum , clawing back the $75 Million Dollars it has spent on relief and rehabilitation work so far . For its part , Union Carbide has deducted $5 Million Dollars from its payment . This was money which a New York court ordered the company to pay to the Red Cross for relief work in the immediate aftermath of the leak .

In short , very little compensation cash might be left for distribution : " The value of an Indian life is likely to be put at about the price of a television set , " one commentator said . To date (ie March 1989) , victims have not received any relief payments with the result that malnutrition is aggravating their problems .

MEANWHILE....... - Union Carbide , whose shares went up $2 on Wall Street the day the settlement was announced , made $270 Million Dollars profit last year (ie 1988).......


As OSCAR WILDE put it -- " The only thing that sustains one through life is the consciousness of the immense inferiority of everybody else , and this is a feeling that I have always cultivated . "

Both you and Union Carbide , Oscar.......


[END of BHOPAL....... ].


Saturday, January 24, 2004

BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .......



.......in June 1920 ,a provincial newspaper , ' The Westmeath Independent ' , published a pro-Irish freedom Editorial ; Dublin Castle 'spin-doctor' Basil Clarke did not like the point made by that Editorial and sent the Black and Tans in to convey that message .......


The owners wife , a Mrs Chapman , and the house-maid , were living next to the printing works ( in Garden Vale House ) when , at one A M on a Sunday morning , the two women noticed flames coming from the works ; some of the employees lived in nearby Mardyke Street , and Mrs Chapman ran there for help but , due to the British-imposed street curfew (ie anyone on the street during certain hours was shot at) she got no offers of help .

She ran back to the works and herself and the maid worked through the night trying to put the fire out . Both women reported seeing about a dozen Black and Tans at the building when they first noticed the fire . As dawn broke on that Sunday morning , and the curfew was lifted , the 'Westmeath Independent' Works Manager , a Mr. James Martin and a warehouse worker , a Mr O' Brien , rushed to the plant and worked with the two women in salvaging what they could from the ruined building .

Other newspapers also received a knock on the door from Basil Clarke and his 'censorship board' ....... (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


A QUIET PERIOD.......




".......I remember one IRA Volunteer in particular ; a small man , past middle-age , who had worked all his hard life on a farm , every day . Now he also worked at night for his country ......."


" His name was Neilus O' Connell , but he was known to us by his nom de guerre , ' Louth '. During his long service for Ireland , he saw many a day breaking . It was his greatest pleasure . May he enjoy the brightness of an eternal dawn .

In the autumn of 1917 , the time had come for me to leave home and go to a secondary school . I viewed the prospect with dismay , as Volunteer re-organisation was in full swing . One of my sisters , a secondary teacher , stepped into the breach and saved me . She taught a younger sister and myself and prepared us for the 'Junior Grade' examination .

We had a most enjoyable school year , and I had plenty of time for Volunteer work . But good times come to an end and June 1918 came quickly . We passed our examination and were free from study for the summer months . The attack on the RIC at Beal a' Ghleanna early in July 1918 and a little subsequent martial law activity brought on the autumn again .

The 'Conscription Bill' , passed on 16th April 1918 , had caused a scare amongst people opposed to , or not interested in , the cause of Irish independence . It had caused a good deal of amusement amongst the rank and file of the Volunteers , and had provided extra work for their Officers who had to deal with a large influx of recruits while the scare lasted......."



BHOPAL.......




(From an article by Richard Douthwaite , published in 'ALPHA' magazine , 30th March 1989 , page 10).

(2 of 3).



Even R. S. Pathak's (the Indian Government's Chief Justice) immediate predecessor as Chief Justice was appalled - " The court order places a ridiculously low price on Indian life ," wrote P. N. Bhagwati , " the order is breathless in its sweep . It defies comprehension how criminal proceedings against Union Carbide can be quashed without even examining if there is a prima facie case " .

Not unexpectedly , government officials argued that , although 592,000 people out of Bhopal's population of 680,000 have claimed compensation , most of the claims are bogus ! They estimate that 3,410 people have died (deaths still occur every day) , 25,000 people will be seriously ill for the rest of their lives , mostly as a result of damaged lungs , and that 80,000 people are less badly affected .

If the $470 Million dollars is divided up among the " 100,000 real victims ", they say , the average figure of £4,700 dollars should be enough to give the bereaved £13,000 dollars each , with smaller sums to look after the permanently ill and the partially incapacitated ........ (Part three of three tomorrow ...)



Friday, January 23, 2004

BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .......


.......The new British 'Chief Secretary for Ireland' , 'Sir' Hamar Greenwood , is believed to have worked closely with Dublin Castle 'spin-doctor' , Basil Clarke to produce a propaganda 'newspaper' , ' The Weekly Summary ' ; Clarke was a devious character who would 'cosy-up' to the journalists and become their 'new best friend '........


He would then attempt to politely advise the journalists on how best to report a certain story , or if same should be reported on at all .....

If the 'buddy-buddy' routine failed , Basil Clarke used other methods ; in June 1920 , the 'Westmeath Independent' (a provincial newspaper) stated in an Editorial - " English rule is broken in Ireland . No English policies , good or bad , will stand . The Irish people will govern themselves . "

The (founding) Managing Director of that newspaper , a Mr. Thomas Chapman , was absent from the town of Athlone (where the newspaper and its Offices , printing-press etc were based) and was in fact convalescing from ill health . Basil Clarke did not like the tone of the Editorial , and sent in his 'boot-boys' ; the Black and Tans ....... (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


A QUIET PERIOD




" Except for the periods of actual military activity , the ordinary IRA Volunteer attended to his everyday duties in private life . This was not an easy matter , at any time , especially for the man who had to do a hard day's work . To work hard , or indeed to work at all , it is essential to have regular sleep and rest . Youth and enthusiasm replaced sleep and rest during many of these years of preparation and conflict .

The fire of youth burned brightly in most of us . But I remember , above all , the few who had to depend on enthusiasm alone to sustain them . One of these , a small man past middle age , joined the Volunteers on the very first day of their inauguration . He had worked for a farmer for a few shillings a day since his early youth . Now , with over half a hard life behind him , he cheerfully took up the additional task of working for his country by night , without hope of remuneration but with the certainty of shortening and the chance of losing his life . " (MORE LATER).



BHOPAL




(From an article by Richard Douthwaite , published in 'ALPHA' magazine , 30th March 1989 , page 10).

(1 of 3).


In New Dehli tomorrow (ie 31st March 1989) Union Carbide will pay the registrar of the Indian Supreme Court $470 million dollars in full and final settlement of all claims - criminal or civil - which have arisen or could still arise out of the gas leak at the company's pesticide plant in Bhopal in December 1984 .

The settlement figure was reached in secret negotiations between Union Carbide and the Indian Government . However , in order to shield itself from charges of selling out , the government pretended that the Supreme Court had imposed the agreement !

It got Chief Justice R. S. Pathak to interrupt Union Carbide's appeal against a high court order that the chemical company make an interim payment to the victims . Pathak made another order - this time settling the affair for good . Union Carbide's lawyers did not even ask for time to check with the United States . They just nodded .

So did the Indian Attorney General who had been demanding more than six times as much - $3,000 million dollars ....... (Part two of three tomorrow .......)


Thursday, January 22, 2004

BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .......


....... 'Sir' Hamar Greenwood gave the British 'police' in Ireland , the 'Royal Irish Constabulary' , and the Black and Tans 'official' clearance to go on the rampage and blame it all on Republican resistance to Westminster 'rule' .......


In the last few months of 1920 , Greenwood and his staff put together plans for the publication of a weekly 'newspaper' to be distributed mainly to the British forces in Ireland ; the 'newspaper' was to be known as ' The Weekly Summary ' , and , in the third week of January 1921 , the first issue was published .

It is almost definite that a Mr. Basil Clarke was heavily involved in the publishing of ' The Weekly Summary '; he was an earlier version of the now infamous 'spin-doctor' , a devious character known to the Irish and international media , whom he used to entertain twice a day at 'press conferences' in Dublin Castle , as "The Black and Tan Publicity Man . "

Basil Clarke would 'cosy-up' to the journalists and become their new best friend ....... (MORE LATER).




WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


".......the two IRA men ,carrying their bicycles and rifles , went across country to a safe-house ; Richie Walsh's place . He was delighted to see them ...... "


" The width of the roads they crossed was the only horizontal and smooth surface they met . Even the bed of the river they crossed was rough . The little fields they met all sloped at a steep angle , and the stone fences were often ten feet high , on one side at least . Rocks , stones of all shapes and sizes , with furze and stunted black and white thorn in between the stones , covered the ground they travelled . They were giants who did it .

After tea and a talk with Richie Walsh , they filled bags with straw and , climbing further up the rugged hill to a beilic they knew , made their bed and slept the sleep of the just , not far from ' Lua's fairy lake ' where Michael Doheny had also rested . Poor Doheny's thoughts could hardly have induced pleasant dreams , since he had seen dismal defeat .

Johnny and Liam had at least tasted victory . "


[END of THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......].




DO AS I SAY ,NOT AS I DO .....


(From ' Magill ' magazine , December 1988 , page 62).


FIANNA FAIL AND EXTRADITION ----> (6 of 6.)


<---- In 1975 and 1976 , as the largest 'opposition' party in Leinster House , FIANNA FAIL 'the republican party' was most vocally opposed to the very idea that an extradition treaty should be signed between this State and Westminster .

At the time , 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' was being discussed in Leinster House , and FIANNA FAIL (as 'the republican party' , don't-ya-know) was dead set against it . Or was it .......?


Finally , one of the de Valera's - not sure if it was Sile or Vivion , but suspect it was the latter , stated re 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976) ' --

-- " The effect of Section 2 of this Bill , particularly when coupled with Section 14 , will turn this State and particularly the agencies of the State , the security forces and the courts , into an agency for another sovereignty over which we have no control ."


Now that's rich : A de Valera objecting to " the agencies of this State " being turned over to be used by the Brits !

Anyway , for all their talk , Jack Lynch , GERARD Collins , David Andrews , Charlie Haughey , Des O'Malley , the de Valera's and the rest of the Fianna Fail 'republican party' went right ahead and used 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' against Irish Republicans when they got back into power .

When they made the above-mentioned statements , the 'republican party' were in 'opposition' - the State Administration at the time was composed of a Fine Gael and Labour coalition (1973 - 1977).

'Magill' Magazine (December 1988 , page 62) wrote that Fianna Fail were using 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' as " the panacea for the difficulties over extradition " despite their condemnation of same during their term in opposition !

DO AS I SAY , NOT AS I DO .....indeed .


Wednesday, January 21, 2004

BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .......



........ Ireland , 1920 - and the Brits were losing the propaganda war . A new British ' Chief Secretary for Ireland ' was appointed in April that year ; 'Sir' Hamar Greenwood .......


Greenwood was a careerist , determined to be at the top of the British 'social-ladder' and not at all concerned at how he would arrive there ; he viewed his post in Ireland as just another 'test' , another step , to prove to his 'betters' that he would be a worthy and faithful addition to their level of the social structure . Ireland was to be his ' meal ticket ' .

Under orders from the new 'Chief Secretary', the British 'police' and military were granted 'official' clearance to do what they had , up to then , been doing 'un-officially'-ie ignore the limitations imposed by so-called British 'justice' and dis-regard all notions of fair-play - in short , it was now British policy , as introduced and sanctioned by 'Sir' Hamar Greenwood , to 'legally' take reprisals against the population for any real or imagined IRA activity and to operate a 'shoot-to-kill' policy against suspected IRA members ....... (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


"....... The RIC had lost whatever little respect some of the people had for them . Their name was now associated with 'bully-boy' tactics - bullet , baton and battering ram ......."


" This is how my mother taught me the English alphabet -

A for the Army that covers the ground ,
B for the Buckshot we're getting all round ,
C for the Crowbar of cruel ill-fame ,
D for Davitt , a right glorious name .

In the favouring dusk , Johnny and Liam , the slings over their shoulders and the carbines tied on their bicycles , rode down the road towards Ballingeary . At Cathair Cross they left the road and , taking the bicycles on their shoulders , crossed over Carraig na Dabhaire , down through Gurteen Owen Wood , up Coom Dorcha , down Doire na Buairce , out on the road at Scrahan Mor , near Muing na Biorrai , where Smith was buried after Cath Ceimaneigh .

Down Tuirin Lahard , across the river at Tuirin Dubh , and out on the road to Ceimaneigh . Along the road to Ceimaneigh for a short distance , then up the steep boreen to Richie Walsh's place . If they had come staggering under the weight of bags of gold for Richie , they could not have been more welcome . Apart from the events of the day , before they left the road at Cathair Cross , the cross-country march , with bicycles and rifles on their shoulders , was a feat that few could accomplish in the daytime . " (MORE LATER).



DO AS I SAY ,NOT AS I DO .....


(From ' Magill ' magazine , December 1988 , page 62).


FIANNA FAIL AND EXTRADITION ----> (5 of 6.)


<---- In 1975 and 1976 , as the largest 'opposition' party in Leinster House , FIANNA FAIL 'the republican party' was most vocally opposed to the very idea that an extradition treaty should be signed between this State and Westminster .

At the time , 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' was being discussed in Leinster House , and FIANNA FAIL (as 'the republican party' , don't-ya-know) was dead set against it . Or was it .......?


Desmond O'Malley , then a front-bench member of Fianna Fail ; a Limerick man , born in 1939 , and a solicitor by profession . Educated at Crescent College in Limerick and University College Dublin , he studied at the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland .

He was Free State Minister for 'Justice' 1970 - 1973 , Minister for Industry and Commerce 1977 - 1981 , and Free State Minister for Trade , Commerce and Tourism in 1982 . Ambitious and arrogant , O'Malley had his heart set on leading Fianna Fail , but it was not to be ; he stated , re ' The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act(1976) ' --

-- " I do not propose to cover the full spectrum in its political context as has been done fully and ably and in terms with which I totally agree by Deputy Haughey . I am opposed to this Bill and will certainly vote against it . "


The words " totally agree (with) Deputy Haughey " and the name 'Dessie O'Malley' were , to the best of my knowledge , never used in the same sentence again !


Tuesday, January 20, 2004

BRITISH PROPAGANDA , 1921 - Royal Irish Constabulary newspaper .


Ireland , April 1920 - the Black and Tans were in the second year of their campaign to destroy any resistance to British mis-rule in Ireland ; their British paymasters in Westminster were not happy with their 'progress' . The 'Royal Irish Constabulary'(the British 'police' in Ireland) were being burnt out of their barracks' and the Black and Tans thought it would have been all over with in a few months - morale was low .

Westminster was adept at sending out propaganda regarding the situation in Ireland to the international press , and decided to try the same 'spin-doctoring' in Ireland itself ; this time , to its own troops . A little-known Canadian of Welsh parentage , a 'Sir' Hamar Greenwood , was appointed 'Chief Secretary for Ireland' in April 1920 ....... (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.

THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


".......the RIC man that Johnny Lynch gave a thumping to went by the name of Bennett . He was known in the area to be a vicious blaggard ......."


" On the previous evening , this truculent policeman had cleaned his rifle outside the gate of the barracks . With this accomplished to his satisfaction , he had proceeded to display his skill . Catching the weapon by the barrel , he had spun it in the air and again caught it as it fell . This he did repeatedly for the delectation of the simple peasantry . Well , he had his fling . So had the RIC as a body . The people were tired of them and their overbearing , strutting tyranny .

The "Law" and the "Force." Yes , and the Crowbar and the Battering Ram. The Torch and the Buckshot . The Bayonet and the Bullet and the Baton . These tools had been always associated with the "Law." The "Force" was the eyes and the ears and the power behind the "Law." " (MORE LATER).




DO AS I SAY ,NOT AS I DO .....


(From ' Magill ' magazine , December 1988 , page 62).


FIANNA FAIL AND EXTRADITION ----> (4 of 6.)


<---- In 1975 and 1976 , as the largest 'opposition' party in Leinster House , FIANNA FAIL 'the republican party' was most vocally opposed to the very idea that an extradition treaty should be signed between this State and Westminster .

At the time , 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' was being discussed in Leinster House , and FIANNA FAIL (as 'the republican party' , don't-ya-know) was dead set against it . Or was it .......?


....... CHARLIE HAUGHEY - an unprincipled chancer (and one of the few unprincipled chancers in Fianna Fail to be actually caught with his/her hand in the till) was born in Castlebar , County Mayo , in 1925 . He was educated in Dublin at Scoil Mhuire ( Marino ) , Saint Josephs CBS (Fairview ) , University College Dublin and Kings Inn .

An accountant by profession (ie "five grand for the party , fifteen grand for me .....") he's into horses and property , and was first elected to Leinster House at the age of thirty-two , in 1957 . As one of the movers and shakers of his day , the bould Charlie was a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants , the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts and Malahide Rowing Club .

He was Free State Minister for 'Justice' from 1961 - 1964 , Agriculture , 1964 - 1966 , Finance 1966 - 1970 and , before he was appointed as the Free State Minister for Health and Social Welfare (1977 - 1979) had this to say about the 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' =

" If this Bill becomes law , its operation will have the very opposite effect to that which is intended . It will be counter productive in every way . Unpalatable and repressive though they clearly are and alien to the principles to which we are accustomed , the procedures laid down in this Bill cannot guarantee successful prosecutions . "


The words " cannot guarantee successful prosecution " were coupled with the name 'Charles Haughey' in later years as well .......


Monday, January 19, 2004

' LEO ' of 'The Nation' newspaper ; John Keegan Casey , 1846 - 1870 .......


.......captured members of The Fenians and the Irish Republican Brotherhood were treated badly by the British - although only a young man , John Keegan Casey was not healthy enough to withstand the abuse .......


He was not physically strong enough to deal with the conditions he was forced to endure in Mountjoy Jail and , although only twenty-two years of age , his health began to disintegrate ( due , perhaps , to the diseased times in which he was born). Within a few months of beginning his sentence , his British jailers were worried about his sickly demure - not because they were concerned about him , but because if he were to die in prison it would reflect badly on them and perhaps make a martyr of young Casey ; they released him .

On the 17th March , 1870 , at twenty-four years young , John Keegan Casey ('LEO' of 'The Nation' newspaper) died ; the writings he left behind join the treasured memoir's and memento's bequeathed to the struggle for Irish Freedom ; an on-going struggle . His best-known works include 'A Wreath of Shamrock ' , which he wrote when he was twenty and , at twenty-three years of age , 'The Rising of The Moon .'

He died one-hundred-and-thirty-four years ago , but is still remembered in Irish Republican circles to this day ; the British should learn from our long memories .......


" I will see my day of freedom at The Rising of The Moon ,
oh , my trusty friends and comrades , I know its coming soon .
All you freedom loving people hear this voice in many lands -
when the song-bird sings of freedom , that's the voice of Bobby Sands . "

(From ' The Birds of Freedom ' , by Tomas O'Riain ).


[End of ' LEO ' of 'The Nation' newspaper ; John Keegan Casey , 1846 - 1870 .].



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


"........the ambush was successful ; the useless material (ie helmets , batons etc) had been dumped - now the rifles and ammunition , and the men themselves , had to be got to safety ......."


" They had already decided that , when darkness fell , they would take the rifles and ammunition away to the south , across the main road from Ballingeary through Ceimaneigh to the west . This would eliminate all risk of their being found in a minute local search . They now decided to take the bicycles also .

Meanwhile , what of the police ? Evidently they roused themselves up and caught the horse which had been grazing along the dykes of the road . The wounded man mounted the animal and his comrade led it by the head . Thus they made progress down by Acharus , not indeed as dignified as that of the morning . They met Mick Callaghan . With unfeigned surprise he asked " Yerra what happened ye at all , at all ? "

Under the circumstances one could hardly expect a civil answer . Compared with their polished , well equipped and martial bearing of the forenoon they now looked a total loss . " Ah , someone will pay for this , " was the reply he got from Johnny's opponent . The man scarred by the bullet said nothing . Indeed , it was a matter of regret with the Volunteers who knew him , and especially with Johnny who had experience of his courtesy during a raid on his house , that he should have been hurt .

They rejoiced when they learned that his wound was not serious . His name was Butler . There was scant sympathy for the other man's bruises - his name was Bennett . " (MORE LATER).



DO AS I SAY ,NOT AS I DO .....


(From ' Magill ' magazine , December 1988 , page 62).


FIANNA FAIL AND EXTRADITION ----> (3 of 6.)


<---- In 1975 and 1976 , as the largest 'opposition' party in Leinster House , FIANNA FAIL 'the republican party' was most vocally opposed to the very idea that an extradition treaty should be signed between this State and Westminster .

At the time , 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' was being discussed in Leinster House , and FIANNA FAIL (as 'the republican party' , don't-ya-know) was dead set against it . Or was it .......?


DAVID ANDREWS (a barrister by profession) , born in 1936 in Dublin , and educated at Colaiste Mhuire in Dublin and Mount Saint Josephs in Roscrea , County Tipperary . He studied in University College Dublin and Kings Inn , Dublin . A bit of a lad for the oul' soccer , I believe .....

Mr. Andrews did'nt think much of ' The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976) ' = " The unconstitutionality of this Bill is well settled . This is a politically disastrous Bill . It could bring the whole criminal law into contempt and make a sham of our adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights . "


A barrister and " human rights " ? Only if the price is right .......

Fianna Fail against extradition ? Only if the price is right .......


Sunday, January 18, 2004

' LEO ' of 'The Nation' newspaper ; John Keegan Casey , 1846 - 1870 .......



....... John Keegan Casey ('LEO' of 'The Nation' newspaper) joined the revolutionary Irish Republican Brotherhood in the mid-1860's when he was still only a teenager - on 5th March 1867 the IRB made their move .......


Armed actions took place at , amongst other locations , Stepaside , Glencullen and Tallaght in Dublin , Ballyknockane and Knockadoon in Cork , Ballyhurst in County Tipperary , and also in Louth and Limerick .

John Keegan Casey , now aged twenty-one , was one of the thousands of Irish Rebels arrested when the Fenian Rising failed ; he was brought before the Special Court in Green Street , Dublin , where he was sentenced to seven years penal servitude in Dublin's Mountjoy Jail .

The conditions for the Fenians and the Irish Republican Brotherhood prisoners in the jails in which they were held were deliberately harsh - they were locked in their cells for twenty-three hours of every day , with the other hour being spent in forced exercise , in single-file and in silence , in a metal cage in the prison yard . (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


".......the fight for possession of the weapons was over ; the IRA had them - two rifles , one-hundred rounds of ammunition , belts , batons , helmets and notebooks ......."


" The whole IRA team went up the hill on the north side of the road . Here the Ballyvourney men and Tadhg Twomey had dumped their bicycles . Tadhg took his and , making a detour by Gougane Barra , came home to the village of Ballingeary .

Jamie , Neilus and Dan also cycled home around the mountain road . Johnny and Liam dumped the helmets , batons and other useless stuff in a nearby beilic - a jutting rock under which the sheep slept at night , and often many a good man as well . With the carbines and ammunition , they again came down to the scene of the ambush . The police had gone . Crossing the road , they skirted by Johnny's house .

Here , in a grove , they found Jer Shea's bicycle . Evidently Jer had gone home across country and intended to return for the bicycle that night . Liam had his bicycle also , and both were in the wrong place in case of an early morning search by crown forces - which was now a certainty . " (MORE LATER).



DO AS I SAY ,NOT AS I DO .....


(From ' Magill ' magazine , December 1988 , page 62).


FIANNA FAIL AND EXTRADITION ----> (2 of 6.)


<---- In 1975 and 1976 , as the largest 'opposition' party in Leinster House , FIANNA FAIL 'the republican party' was most vocally opposed to the very idea that an extradition treaty should be signed between this State and Westminster .

At the time , 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' was being discussed in Leinster House , and FIANNA FAIL (as 'the republican party' , don't-ya-know) was dead set against it . Or was it .......?


Gerry(" Call me Gerard") Collins , a likely lad from Limerick , ex-Fianna Fail Minister for Posts and Telegraphs 1970-1973 , Minister for (Free State) Justice 1977-1981 and , as the Free State Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1982 , had no doubt but that issues relating to the Six Counties should be included in his brief (ie part of the national terrority being 'dealth with' under the portfolio of 'Foreign Affairs' ! That's the 'republican party' for ya .....)


But anyway ..... the bould GERARD had this to say about extraditing people to Britain - " It is well known that no country has been stronger in asserting this idea of non-extradition for politically motivated offences than the British themselves . Yet it now appears they are trying to foist a different rule of law on us . We believe that this Bill , if it becomes law , will remain a dead letter. What we are now attempting to legalise here is trial in which evidence will be given on commission in the absence of the accused , something which is totally unacceptable since it is at variance with the constitutional guarantees of fairness of procedures . "


YEP ! No doubt about it ; that's a definite line in the sand from our GERARD and FIANNA FAIL . Obviously made on a windy day .......


Saturday, January 17, 2004

' LEO ' of 'The Nation' newspaper ; John Keegan Casey , 1846 - 1870 .......


....... Daniel O' Connell's ' Catholic Association ' was controlled by polite gentlemen who were politely fobbed-off by the Brits ; the ' Young Ireland ' group , led by Thomas Davis and James Fintan Lalor were radicals who did not rule out physical force to remove the British . John Keegan Casey was drawn to them .......


He submitted material for publication to ' The Nation ' newspaper under the pseudonym ' LEO ' ; his poetry and other writings were published on a regular basis , and this brought him into contact with like-minded individuals . John Keegan Casey was in his late teens when , in the mid-1860's , he joined an Irish Republican organisation founded by James Stephens in 1858 - the ' Irish Republican Brotherhood ' , and worked full-time within that Movement , alongside the Fenians , in preparing for an armed rising in Ireland .

The Fenian / IRB Rising went ahead on 5th March 1867 (having being postponed from its original date of 11th February 1867 due to the actions of an informer)....... (MORE LATER).




WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......



".......The IRA men had stopped the RIC patrol ; a fist-fight had started and one shot was fired , injuring one of the RIC men , whose cart had by now been pushed off the road ......."


" Johnny Lynch's opponent still clung to his rifle . He shouted for mercy , and said he was a married man with a wife and family depending on him ; yet he would not relinquish the rifle . Johnny , for a reasonable time , had taken him as easily as he possibly could . He had risked his life and liberty to spare him , even after hearing him boast of how the machine-gun had frightened the people at Coolea .

Now he had to treat him roughly , and when Johnny straightened himself up holding the captured rifle , the RIC man lay on the ground bruised and vanquished . " Where is the other rifle ? " someone asked . Jamie and Neilus had assumed that it had fallen on the road with the wounded RIC man . Actually it had remained on the seat of the car , and was now gone down the glen with it . Johnny and Liam climbed down . They found it undamaged . It had fallen out on the thick heather , early in the sidecar's wild career .

The booty was now checked and found correct . It comprised two magazine Lee-Metford carbines , two slings of .303 with fifty rounds in each , two belts with batons , two spiked helmets( for the overawing of simple people ) and two notebooks . " (MORE LATER).



DO AS I SAY ,NOT AS I DO .....


(From ' Magill ' magazine , December 1988 , page 62).


FIANNA FAIL AND EXTRADITION ----> (1 of 6.)


<---- In 1975 and 1976 , as the largest 'opposition' party in Leinster House , FIANNA FAIL 'the republican party' was most vocally opposed to the very idea that an extradition treaty should be signed between this State and Westminster .

At the time , 'The Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act (1976)' was being discussed in Leinster House , and FIANNA FAIL (as 'the republican party' , don't-ya-know) was dead set against it . Or was it .......?


The then Leader of Fianna Fail , Jack Lynch , stated -- " I totally oppose this Bill . I believe this Bill , if enacted , would be politically disastrous in the sense that it would not only not help to bring peace to Northern Ireland(sic) or promote reconciliation in the North or between the North and South ; it would do the contrary . Secondly , this Bill would violate the Constitution of the Republic(sic) . "


GOOD MAN , JACK , ya boy ya ! A sound man from the Rebel County of Cork .

Yeah , right .......


Friday, January 16, 2004

' LEO ' of 'The Nation' newspaper ; John Keegan Casey , 1846 - 1870 .......



.......Born in 1846 at Mount Dalton in County Westmeath , John Keegan Casey was brought into the world in bad times ; the potato , the main food source , was unedible .......


He grew up witnessing poverty all around him . When he was twelve years young he heard his people discussing a new group that had been formed to drive the English out of the country and return all lands to their owners - the Irish Rebel leader , James Stephens , was in command of that group , the ' Irish Republican Brotherhood ' .

Even as a teenager , John Keegan Casey was angered by the mis-treatment of his people by the British , but confined himself to expressing his feelings on paper and submitting same for publication to ' The Nation ' newspaper , which was associated with ' The Young Ireland ' group , an organisation formed from within Daniel O' Connell's (constitutional) movement , the ' Catholic Association ' ; the ' Young Ireland ' group , however , did not agree that only methods favoured by the British should be used to oppose the British presence in Ireland .

It was to that physical force organisation , led by Thomas Davis and James Fintan Lalor , that young John Keegan Casey was drawn ....... (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


".......The IRA Company , led by Johnny Lynch , stopped the armed RIC patrol to take their weapons ; in the fist-fight that developed , Johnny's mask was torn off his face and his nose was marked ......."


" The mark on his nose would persist . Johnny had little doubt about the outcome of the struggle ; it would be hard to meet his equal for physique and spirit . As the RIC man reached the ground , a revolver had cracked at the other side .

Dan and Liam had jumped from the heather simultaneously with the others . They had a longer distance to travel and had to scramble a little to get up on the road . They presented their revolvers , and their opponent reached for his rifle which lay on the seat beside him . As he grasped it , a bullet scarred his neck deeply - he fell from his seat and lay bleeding on the road .

Jamie and Neilus worked quickly , too quickly , as it transpired afterwards . Cutting away the horse from the side car , they caught the shafts and , driving the car over a bank , released it . When it came to rest at the foot of the precipice , it was a sorry sight . " (MORE LATER).



NUKING THE IRISH , and the world .......

[from ' The Sunday World ' , 5th June , 1988 , pages 10, 11, and 12].


Thirty ' bullet points ' regarding Windscale/Sellafield -- re-published here , three at a time .......


(28)... In 1987 , what was later described as " a serious incident " took place ; whatever it was that happened was not reported to the Health Board until three months afterwards . It was then discovered that at least one of the workers who was present when the " serious incident " occured was unable to walk through a 'body monitor' (ie- an electronic bleeper/tester) , for six months , without setting it off !

(29)... The Windscale/Sellafield record for leaks - both accidental and deliberate - is by far the worst of any nuclear installation anywhere in the world .

[30]... Even if the Plant were to close tomorrow , the radioactive waste from its notorious pipeline will continue to pollute the coastline and contaminate fish-life for the next one-hundred-thousand years !


That's the Brits for ya - determined to leave their mark on the planet.......

In this State at the moment , the politicians are everywhere voicing their so-called " concern " over the health of the population in regards to smoking cigarettes in pubs , restaurants , hotels etc . Yet they ignore the above threat.......


Thursday, January 15, 2004

' LEO ' of 'The Nation' newspaper ; John Keegan Casey , 1846 - 1870 ........


.......Born at a time when the main staple of the people , the potato , was of no use due to what was then described as " cholera " , John Keegan Casey was only a 'babe-in-arms' when things began to get worse .......


The potato blight , now known to be ' Phytophthora Infestans ', was carried to other potato plants by wind , rain and insects , and rendered the potato unedible .

Many tried to carry-on as normal , by simply boiling the foodstuff and hoping all would be well ( in most of the country at that time , up to nine-tenths of the population depended on the potato for survival)-- however , the foul stench from boiling the rotten vegetable was impossible to bear and resulted in the house being uninhabitable for man or beast .

It was into the above turmoil that a child was born in County Westmeath in 1846 , at Mount Dalton ; ....... (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.

THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


"....... Johnny Lynch , carrying a shotgun and with his face blackened , jumped out in front of the RIC wagon ; he looked menacing ......."


" The RIC driver thought so anyway , for he left the box-seat with so much precipitation and maintained such an acceleration , that the onlookers thought he would leave the ground and fly . He did leave the ground , too , for meeting the wall of the glen , he dived over it and was lost to sight .

Johnny paid scant attention to the vanishing driver . He concentrated on the policeman on his side of the car . He saw him snatch , with finger and thumb , at the magazine cut-off . Then Johnny knew that the breech wanted a cartridge . Swiftly laying his gun on the ground , he reached upwards and , grasping his opponents tunic , dragged him off his seat .

The RIC man reached the ground on the flat of his back , still clutching his rifle with both hands . Johnny now transferred both hands to the rifle , and a struggle for possession started . As he had reached upwards for a hold on the tunic , the RIC man snatched at his mask . He had torn it off , and had brought a bit of skin from Johnny's nose as well .

That was a serious matter , as he might now be recognised ......."



NUKING THE IRISH , and the world .......

[from ' The Sunday World ' , 5th June , 1988 , pages 10, 11, and 12].


Thirty ' bullet points ' regarding Windscale/Sellafield -- re-published here , three at a time .......


(25)... In 1985 , fires at the Windscale/Sellafield Plant released plutonium into the main processing building . The incident was not admitted to by management until 1988 .

(26)... What the suits at the Plant refer too as " medium-level waste " is kept in the form of radioactive sludge in specially-built silos . The other form of nuclear waste -- that which is described as "high-level"-- is causing problems because , as reported in the article - " Nobody has the least idea what to do with it " in the long term !

(27)... The liquid run-off from the above-mentioned sludge , together with contaminated cooling-pond water and other such liquids , form what is described as " low-level waste " that is then pumped into the Irish Sea .

Ah , sure is'nt it only aul low-level stuff ; extra sun-block and a slightly hotter shower at the end of the day and sure ya'll be grand altogether .......

.....final three 'bullet points' tomorrow...


Wednesday, January 14, 2004

' LEO ' of 'The Nation' newspaper ; John Keegan Casey , 1846 - 1870 .


Ireland 1846 ; a Great Hunger stalked the countryside -


" The growth of the potato plant progresses as favourably as the most sanguine farmer could wish . "

-- ' The Freemans Journal ' newspaper , 20th August , 1845 .


" We regret to have to state that we have had communications from more than one well-informed correspondent announcing the fact of what is called 'cholera' in potatoes in Ireland , especially in the North . In one instance the party had been digging potatoes - the finest he had ever seen - from a particular field , and a particular ridge of that field up to Monday last ; and on digging in the same ridge on Tuesday he found the tubers all blasted , and unfit for the use of man or beast . "

-- ' The Freemans Journal ' newspaper , 11th September , 1845 .

The " cholera " was , in fact , a killer fungus , called ' phytophthora infestans ' - what chance for a child born into the above circumstances .......? (MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


".......one of the seven IRA Volunteers was up on high , watching . The other six men were concealed in the undergrowth , ready to do the job . They had not long to wait ......."


" Their plan was complete . Johnny Lynch was to step out on the road and present his shotgun . Jamie and Neilus were to seize the horse , cut him away from the car , and let him go his own way . They were then to take the sidecar and throw it over into the glen . This would help to discourage people from giving lifts to the RIC .

They saw the grey horse a long way off . He came slowly up the straight from Renanirree . He disappeared around the first bend . He would not reappear until within a few yards of them . They could hear his hoofbeats and the echo of his hoofbeats . Now they could hear voices . Presently they could make out a few words - " machine-gun " was one . It was repeated , and then Johnny's ear caught one complete sentence .

He knew the RIC voice that uttered it - he was a bad lad , and what he said confirmed that fact : " They(the people) did not run until they saw the machine-gun . " Just then Johnny stepped out on the road , his shotgun levelled . With his towering figure and masked and blackened visage , he must have appeared a most menacing apparition ....... " (MORE LATER).




NUKING THE IRISH , and the world .......

[from ' The Sunday World ' , 5th June , 1988 , pages 10, 11, and 12].


Thirty ' bullet points ' regarding Windscale/Sellafield -- re-published here , three at a time .......


(22)... In 1983 , a decision was taken by management at Windscale/Sellafield to " flush " one of their holding tanks , which was " choked " with highly-radioactive sludge ; the contents of the tank were then emptied into the Irish Sea , but all did not go as planned , and local beaches were contaminated . The nuclear filth which ended up on local beaches was strong enough to cause radiation burns but it took the suits at the Plant four days to issue a " Stay Away " warning !

(23)... Today (ie 1988) Windscale/Sellafield is still no longer just a power station - it is a major nuclear reprocessing plant that takes waste from all over the world . A staggering one-thousand tons of spent nuclear fuel arrives there every week .

(24)... There are three categories of nuclear waste from the process carried out at Windscale/Sellafield . The most dangerous of the high-level radioactive waste is kept in huge vats that must be surrounded by nine feet of concrete to stop the enclosed intense radiation from killing people working nearby !


...nine feet of concrete between you and six feet of clay - bad odds , I'd say .......

.......Six more 'bullet points' on the way ---->


Tuesday, January 13, 2004

DOROTHY MACARDLE -- Irish Republican , Historian , and Novelist : 1889 - 1958 .......



.......at sixty years of age in 1949 , Dorothy Macardle was a well-known writer and Irish Republican ; she had recorded , in print , details of her life , her involvement with the Republican Movement and the stories of some of those she met along the way .......


At sixty-nine years of age , in 1958 , Dorothy Macardle died in Drogheda in County Louth , on 23rd December .

The words that Dorothy Macardle spoke in Dublin , in May 1924 , when asked about her then-recently published book ' The Tragedies Of Kerry ' , summarise where the woman herself was coming from --

-- " Those who , sensitive to the sufferings of others yet tenacious of their own peace of mind , love to solace themselves with incredulity , will put down this book half read . To those who have any eagerness to understand that time in Ireland it is offered as an infinitesimal fragment of the truth . "

When Dorothy Macardle wrote that book , and the above words , the British were claiming jurisdiction over the six north-eastern counties of Ireland ; today , eighty years later , the British continue to claim jurisdiction over the same six north-eastern counties . The issue has not been resolved . The struggle continues .....


[END of ' DOROTHY MACARDLE -- Irish Republican , Historian , and Novelist : 1889 - 1958 .......].



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


THE MOUTH OF THE GLEN .......


".......the seven IRA men were lying in wait to ambush an RIC patrol ; one of the Volunteers was up high , scouting , the other six had two revolvers and one shotgun between them . They were helped by the lay-out of the area ......."


" ' Beal a' Ghleanna ' was four hundred yards distant from Johnny Lynch's house . There were perpendicular rocks on the northern side , and on the southern side the glen fell steeply away from the road , which here and there had been built up from a depth of fifty feet below .

At one point a little plateau , unprotected by a wall and lower than the road level , jutted out over the glen . Here were stationed Dan MacSweeney , Liam Twomey and Neilus Reilly , lying concealed amongst the heather . The job of Dan and Liam was to deal with the policemen facing south , peacefully if possible.

Directly across the road from them and behind a pillar of rock , Johnny Lynch , Tadhg and Jamie waited . They had not long to wait ........" (MORE LATER).



NUKING THE IRISH , and the world .......

[from ' The Sunday World ' , 5th June , 1988 , pages 10, 11, and 12].


Thirty ' bullet points ' regarding Windscale/Sellafield -- re-published here , three at a time .......


(19)... Management at Windscale/Sellafield , and the 'spin-doctors' on their payroll , were always quick to assure the media that both local and national Health Authorities would be informed immediately should a dangerous incident occur . However , in one such admitted incident , in 1981 , a cloud of highly-dangerous iodine gas was released into the air . The Health Authorities were not notified until four days after it happened !

(20)... The site where the Plant is located - a former British Army munitions factory - was chosen because waste products could be dumped into the Irish Sea.

(21)... Shortly after the pipeline to discharge nuclear filth into the Irish Sea was built , a spokesperson for the Plant (not named in newspaper article) stated : " The intention has been to discharge fairy substantial amounts of radioactivity as part of an organised and deliberate scientific experiment . The aims of the experiment would have been defeated if the level of radioactivity discharged had been kept to a minimum . "


Don't mind human life , plant life , animal life or sea life - once the " experiment " can go ahead , eh , lads ? Typical Brit arrogance ....

....nine more 'bullet points' to go ...