1169 And Counting.....

Friday, June 16, 2006

CHARLES HAUGHEY 1925-2006 : A TRIBUTE .
' With pomp and with ridiculous display
the politicians corpse is borne away ,
and all around him carped and slanged
I wept- I had wished to see him hanged ' .
( G K Chesterton , poet and British Liberal MP ) .

Due to 'staff' (!) shortages here at '1169...' - because of some football matches or other , and exams (you show 'em , Junior!) - this Blog will only be updated every second day , for the next few weeks . In short , I have been abandoned by all but this machine ! Sharon .

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT : INSIDE THE NORTHERN IRELAND (sic) PEACE TALKS (sic).......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , November 1997 .
By Fionnuala O' Connor .

Although debates have scarcely begun and ,for all that , most question whether the Provos can possibly stick with negotiations which end in an improved version of partition , ('1169...' Comment : the answer was 'Yes' , then [1997] , and 'Yes Please!' now ) (P) Sinn Fein's team makes much the stronger impression . ('1169...' Comment : translation - 'they were more desperate for a career in politics than the other lot were') People who imagined they had met 'all the articulate Provos' are struck by what one called "...the sheer intelligence and ability of people I'd never heard of.." . ('1169....' Comment : not surprising , really , if you have 'articulate' people being briefed in what to say by others!)

By contrast , the Ulster Unionist Party's members are seen as stumbling , divided , confused and churlish by design , and devoid of strategy - a judgement made on experience from the start of talks , compounded by the past month .

Since most other participants wanted them there , of course the 'Shinners' came in on a fair wind : they also fit eagerly with the general desire to be sociable , though some were queasy at the initially heavy-handed Adams and McGuinness efforts to force unionists into handshakes and direct dialogue - " You'll have to stop poking , you can't rush this .." , advised Gary McMichael of the UDA's 'political front' , the 'Ulster Democratic Party'.......
(MORE LATER).

THE ROMAN REICH ?
Following the disbandment of the Dublin-based grouping , the NSIWP , a new right-wing organisation , believed to be linked with right-wing Catholic groups , has been formed . COLM KEENA reports .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , 1 October 1987.

A new , extreme right-wing grouping has been formed in Ireland , and operates out of a postal address in Cork : it publishes an internal bulletin titled ' Ar Aghaidh ' , from PO Box 40 , Brian Boru Street , Cork City , and has links with some of the more extreme Irish Catholic Groups and individuals in this country which have been active in recent referenda .

One item in the October issue of 'Ar Aghaidh' tells subscribers that the French National Front is probably one of the most successful of all currently existing nationalistic groups : " The FNJ (youth wing) can be reached at 11 Rue Bernouilli , 75008 , Paris . They have a wide selection of excellent quality literature in French available , and a study of this material is recommended . They have made progress despite the usual defamation from the media and 'liberal' circles . FN's leader , Monsieur Jean-Marie Le Pen , has a realistic chance of actually becoming President in the not-so-distant future . There are definitely lessons to be learnt from the French experience. "

This is followed by the following short item - ' Read Clarion magazine , available from Kiora House , Greystones , County Wicklow . Even though there are noticable differences between it and 'Ar Aghaidh' , there are enough parallels in our relative 'lines' for a look to be of benefit to patriots . ' 'Clarion' magazine is a Catholic 'anti-communist' magazine published by a Jim Keating , of the above Greystones address : Keating has an interesting history with , amongst other things , links to the Moonies.......
(MORE LATER).

THE RIGHT TO SILENCE.......
Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act has just been renewed for another year by State Communications Minister Jim Mitchell , despite increasing protests and lobbying by the NUJ .
HELEN O'CONNOR examines the results of a recent NIHE survey of the attitudes of Dublin people on the issue and GERRY LAVERY looks back to the roots of Section 31 .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , February 1987 .

In the Broadcasting Authority Act of 1960 , Section 31 reads - ' The Minister may direct the Authority in writing to refrain from broadcasting any particular matter or matter of any particular class , and the Authority shall comply with the direction . "

The RTE Authority had been set up as a quasi-independent body under the Broadcasting Authority Act of 1960 , but ultimate power still remained with the State Minister : this represented somewhat of a loosening of control over national communications by the State Administration who , since the Wireless and Telegraphy Act of 1926 , had made the State Minister for Posts and Telegraphs legally responsible for detailed control and operation of broadcasting .

In 1953 , Erskine Childers set up Comhairle Radio Eireann which consisted of a committee of five people in a part-time capacity , responsible under him as State Minister for Posts and Telegraphs for general control and supervision of the service : the 'Television Commission' was set up in the late 1950's to perform roughly the same function for the fledging television service and then both were merged into the RTE Authority under the 1960 Broadcasting Act . And then 'trouble' broke-out in the North of Ireland.......
(MORE LATER).

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT : INSIDE THE NORTHERN IRELAND (sic) PEACE TALKS (sic).......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , November 1997 .
By Fionnuala O' Connor .

Comparatively speaking , Liz O' Donnell is something of a hit , even with unionists , apparently amused by her remark that she is , after all , married to a past pupil of Belfast's Campbell College with the 'sound' surname of Carson .

The interest in personalities , particularly new arrivals , is hardly surprising : 'substantive' negotiation is still in the early stages , with unionists slow to produce papers or 'engage' , a favourite talks word , and by any standards these are bizarre political allsorts , most of them now thrown together for over a year . Even without Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness (pictured here with another Westminster employee) , the mix was unprecedented for narrow , segregated 'Northern Ireland' : from men convicted of loyalist murders and women unaccustomed to thinking of themselves as politicians , to overall Chairman , George Mitchell , former majority leader of the United States Senate .

Over the months before (P) Sinn Fein arrived , the format of negotiation and rules of engagement were hammered out in often bitter exchanges , unionists objecting all the way ; unionists and Provos now attract suspicion and cynicism in almost equal measure.......
(MORE LATER).

THE YOUNGER BREED : ANDY CALLAGHAN.......
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .
No By-Line .

Andy Callaghan was born into a family of eight in the Oliver Bond flats in Dublin and has done very well for himself so far : he cuts quite a dash nowadays , smoking cigars , sporting a crombie coat and cruising around in his Opel Senator car. Money , apparently , is no problem .

His short period in City Hall has been marked by some flamboyant speeches , but he is not a good attender at committee meetings - the only strong stand he has taken to-date has been his opposition to his own party's move to rescind the 'Gaming and Lotteries Act' ; his defence of the one-arm bandits was said to be connected with 'Butcher Smith's (Andy's political buddy in Crumlin) interests in this area .

But Andy finally obeyed his party's political 'whip' : he has already learnt that in Fianna Fail , the party comes first ! If young Andy Callaghan does get the nomination for Dublin South Central , we are all assured of one thing : the battle for the constituency will be a marvel to behold .
[END of 'THE YOUNGER BREED : ANDY CALLAGHAN']
(Friday , 16th June - 'THE ROMAN REICH (in Dublin)' : from 1987.)

THE RIGHT TO SILENCE.......
Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act has just been renewed for another year by State Communications Minister Jim Mitchell , despite increasing protests and lobbying by the NUJ .
HELEN O'CONNOR examines the results of a recent NIHE survey of the attitudes of Dublin people on the issue and GERRY LAVERY looks back to the roots of Section 31 .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , February 1987 .

Even if Section 31 censorship were repealed , says Niall Meehan , there would have to be "...a major attitude change (on the part of the journalists) : they are hemmed in by the inertia of their own profession . They have the problem that they are part of a socio-economic group who favour Section 31 , and they will find it hard to break the mould . "

There still is a lot of confusion surrounding the origins and operation of Section 31 : Charles Haughey , speaking on RTE radio on Friday 16 January , talked about it being enacted "...in 1970 or so.." . AP/RN (issue dated 15 January) talked of "its introduction in 1972." Elsewhere it has been associated most notably with Dr. Conor Cruise O' Brien , State Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in the 1973-1977 Coalition administration .

In fact the roots of what is referred to as 'Section 31' go back much further than any of those dates and can be found in the original Broadcasting Authority Act of 1960 .......
(MORE LATER).

Monday, June 12, 2006

Due to ' staff ' (!) shortages here at '1169...' - because of some football matches or other , and exams (you show 'em , Junior!) - this Blog will only be updated every second day , for the next few weeks . In short , I have been abandoned by all but this machine ! Sharon .

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT : INSIDE THE NORTHERN IRELAND (sic) PEACE TALKS (sic).......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , November 1997 .
By Fionnuala O' Connor .

It was John Taylor who led the Ulster Unionist Party's brief withdrawal from Stormont on October 21 , 2000 , complaining that new (Free State) Minister for Foreign Affairs David Andrews had arrived with an 'aggressive' attitude towards debate on Articles Two and Three of the (State) Constitution : both men may be crucial to what internal observers see as an emerging new Stormont 'group dynamic' .

Taylor has not been present as yet for long enough sessions to allow any certainty about his role . In the other parties one theory had it that the Ulster Unionist Party 'walkout' was designed to wrongfoot the absent leader : another theory believed Trimble knew but professed ignorance when he arrived at the talks building .

David Andrews' performance draws mixed initial reactions : did he provoke the walkout ? " It was a standard outline , " counters a nationalist . Others called the walkout a "stunt" , but were not won by Andrews - " Too laidback , that does'nt go down well here . " Different groups gave him credit however for emphasising his partnership with Junior (Free State) Minister Liz O' Donnell , some think deferring to her longer Stormont experience and greater local knowledge . " Ray Burke never did that , " a Unionist noticed .......
(MORE LATER).

THE YOUNGER BREED : ANDY CALLAGHAN.......
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .
No By-Line .

Adele Ramsey's (Andy Callaghan's Fianna Fail running-mate) close ally and would-be-king-maker in all this is the appropriately named Kevin King : and allied to Andy is the equally intriguing (but more resourceful) Paddy 'Butcher' Smith , who seems to own most of Crumlin village : he hails from Cavan , owns 'Mullingar Meats' and finances the local 'Dublin Journal' newspaper which is not unfriendly , to say the least , to our young hero .

That kind of support is vital to Andy in the pursuit of his next ambition which , surprise , surprise , is a seat in Leinster House at the next election . The two sitting Fianna Fail Leinster House members , Ben Briscoe and John O' Connell , can expect to be nominated automatically for the Dublin South Central constituency , and after that Mount Street (Fianna Fail Head Office) may add one or two to the 'election ticket' : Alderman Mary Mooney will almost certainly be the party's first choice for the addition , and Andy Callaghan is pushing hard to be the second.......
(MORE LATER).

THE RIGHT TO SILENCE.......
Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act has just been renewed for another year by State Communications Minister Jim Mitchell , despite increasing protests and lobbying by the NUJ .
HELEN O'CONNOR examines the results of a recent NIHE survey of the attitudes of Dublin people on the issue and GERRY LAVERY looks back to the roots of Section 31 .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , February 1987 .

Niall Meehan says it took the unlawful detention of Father Niall O' Brien in the Philippines to get Nicky Kelly freed here and that it will take something similar to displace Section 31 censorship here .

But one of the main problems he sees are the people who implement the Section 31 restriction on a day-to-day basis - the RTE journalists themselves : he stated - " Section 31 has become a naturalised part of the RTE landscape . I think RTE journalists were browbeaten into submission as regards Section 31 during the 1970's and the only thing that will change their opinions will be more public support for associations like the 'Repeal Section 31 Committee'. "

But the NUJ and the FWUI in RTE have made recommendations about Section 31 that are presently being implemented : every time it is felt that the Section affects the reporting of any story , journalists are now issuing 'Government Health Warnings' , so called because the viewer or listener is warned about what he/she is not being told because of the operation of Section 31 censorship - according to journalists in RTE , while some of their number are actually in favour of the Section , others are only 'chomping at the bit' , waiting for even a temporary relaxation of the censorship restriction , so that they can pursue some 'hard interviews' with Sinn Fein . Niall Meehan is not so convinced.......
(MORE LATER).

Friday, June 09, 2006

ANNUAL WOLFE TONE COMMEMORATION :
Sunday , June 11 , 2006 , Sallins , Co. Kildare .

A bus for this Commemoration , which is organised each year by the Republican Movement , will leave from outside the old McBirneys/Virgin Megastore site on Dublin's Aston Quay at 12.45PM on the day : the Commemoration itself starts at 2.30PM .

The same bus will leave Bodenstown at 5.30PM that afternoon on its return to Dublin city centre . The fare is ten Euro per person .

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

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT : INSIDE THE NORTHERN IRELAND (sic) PEACE TALKS (sic).......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , November 1997 .
By Fionnuala O' Connor .

David Trimble's submission stated : " The British Isles is divided into two sovereign states , the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (sic) on the one hand , and the Republic of Ireland (sic) on the other . In international law there are and ought to be no constitutional issues between these two states . In so far as it does not already do so , the law and practice of each state should conform with the above statement . "

As delegates rose to give him a decent-enough standing ovation , John Taylor's young assistant Stephen King turned to the nearest journalist to point out how inaccurate his leader's references were to Charlie Haughey and the Arms Trial : the Ulster Unionist Party , David Trimble had just said , want Tony Blair to match any inquiry into Bloody Sunday with another into "...the actions of Fianna Fail and the Irish government (sic) in 1970 . " Cries of 'Hear , Hear!' from delegates , loud applause . " But he got it all wrong , " said Stephen King , " it is my PhD subject . He might have checked."

Stephen King's then boss in the Ulster Unionist Party , John Taylor , was later to make the headlines for 'wrongfooting' his own party leader , David Trimble.......
(MORE LATER).

THE YOUNGER BREED : ANDY CALLAGHAN.......
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .
No By-Line .

Andy Callaghan , like so many of the 'young hawks' in Fianna Fail , is not afraid to plough-in all his energy and resources when it comes to winning an election : he claims to have had 35 cars working for him on election day and some within the constituency maintain that he spent in the region of £10,000 on the campaign . Some of the fallout from that campaign was seen earlier this month when a case against his election agent , Seamus Concannon , for breach of the peace was adjourned until next month in Dublin's district court .

The incident involved Adele Ramsey's (young Andy's running-mate in Fianna Fail) father who alleges that Seamus Concannon , in a fit of temper , swerved his car at him while he was working under it ! Andy Callaghan recently widened his feud with the Ramseys by packing an Ogra Fianna Fail meeting with supporters and seeing off young Adele as Chairperson : the next round in this Crumlin feud is a libel action against two of Andy Callaghan's cumann members , as Adele strikes back .

If it's not quite Montagu vs. Capulet , it's not too far from West Side Story.......
(MORE LATER).

THE RIGHT TO SILENCE.......
Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act has just been renewed for another year by State Communications Minister Jim Mitchell , despite increasing protests and lobbying by the NUJ .
HELEN O'CONNOR examines the results of a recent NIHE survey of the attitudes of Dublin people on the issue and GERRY LAVERY looks back to the roots of Section 31 .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , February 1987 .

Sinn Fein are fielding 27 candidates in 24 constituencies in the coming election and are hopeful of winning seats on the transfers in three or four of these . Even though Sinn Fein is fielding this number of candidates it cannot conduct party political broadcasts on RTE since the (State) Supreme Court case in 1982 where that court upheld the right of the (State) Minister for Communications to prevent any such broadcasts .

At the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis in November 1986 a motion was passed that all members would refuse to pay TV licence fees as an objection to Section 31 censorship and their exclusion from the airwaves . And even though the latest (State) Ministerial Order renewing Section 31 specifically bans '...the organisation styling itself Republican Sinn Fein ..' they are hoping that international pressure from the International Federation of Journalists who recently visited Ireland for the purpose of monitoring the operation of Section 31 and a United Nations group called 'Article 19' which investigates State Censorship in places like South Africa will at some stage put an end to what Sinn Fein's John Doyle calls the "...ridiculous silent movies of Sinn Fein press conferences.." .

Niall Meehan also says that international pressure will sway the groundswell of public opinion in Ireland about Section 31 .......
(MORE LATER).

Thursday, June 08, 2006

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT : INSIDE THE NORTHERN IRELAND (sic) PEACE TALKS (sic).......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , November 1997 .
By Fionnuala O' Connor .

David Trimble has made considerable effort to calm himself down , flattening out an erratic voice , controlling to some degree his tendency to flush bright red when angry : but the strain on an undecided man of leading unenthusiastic followers is bound to show , something he occasionally comes close to acknowledging -

" We could , perhaps , have collapsed the talks by leaving , " Trimble said to his party conference , " I know that all of you , like me , were faced with a difficult decision . For many of us our hearts led one way and our heads the other . " The body language is disjointed as ever , presentation curt and defensive . Starting his keynote speech , he rubbed crossed hands swiftly up and down his forearms as though cold .

The speech included the Ulster Unionist Party submission delivered to Stormont during the pre-conference week , on the 'constitutional issues' in Strands two and Three - meant to find mutual accommodation on cross-border and British-Irish relations . Trimble then read that submission to his party's delegates : it was a short submission , and one which prompted a young party assistant , a Mr. Stephen King , to comment on Trimble "...getting it all wrong ..".......
(MORE LATER).

THE YOUNGER BREED : ANDY CALLAGHAN.......
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .
No By-Line .

Andy Callaghan's introduction to more 'usual' politics came with his involvement , along with barrister friends Jerry Danaher and Adrian Hardiman , in Sile De Valera's campaigns in Dublin South and subsequently in her search for a seat in Clare .

Brought up in Crumlin , Dublin , Andy Callaghan joined the local Wolfe Tone Cumann of Fianna Fail after the re-organisation of the Dublin South-Central constituency as part of Fianna Fail's 'Operation Dublin' back in 1983 : he failed to get a nomination for the local elections in the constituency but , being the pushy type of lad he is , he persuaded Fianna Fail Head Office in Mount Street , Dublin , to add his name to the ticket . After a ' blitzkreig'- like campaign (' Andy Callaghan challenges Fine Gael' posters etc) the bould Andy pulled in 1,421 first preference votes and , riding on the swing to Fianna Fail , was elected to Dublin Corporation .

Not the least surprised at this result was Adele Ramsey , young Andy's eighteen-year-old running mate , who felt the brunt of his campaign and whose 1,000 or so transfers ironically enough elected him . Personalised canvassing was rife , and young Andy's large hoardings adorned almost every house facing each of the six polling-stations until Fianna Fail Director of Elections , Dorrine Kelly , intervened.......
(MORE LATER).

THE RIGHT TO SILENCE.......
Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act has just been renewed for another year by State Communications Minister Jim Mitchell , despite increasing protests and lobbying by the NUJ .
HELEN O'CONNOR examines the results of a recent NIHE survey of the attitudes of Dublin people on the issue and GERRY LAVERY looks back to the roots of Section 31 .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , February 1987 .

The supporters of the Progressive Democrats did not approve of Section 31 censorship by the narrowest of margins - 40 per cent approval , 46.7 per cent disapproval , but Stephen O' Byrnes was adament that those figures did not accurately reflect PD party policy on the matter : " We are in favour of the retention of Section 31 , " he said .

Also , Stephen O' Byrnes would not accept the figures of seven to three who were in favour of allowing Sinn Fein on RTE , as Sinn Fein were 'the unarmed wing of the IRA' as far as the PD party was concerned , and had ' ruled themselves out' because they were 'part time democrats' . He did put one 'rider' to this statement , however , because of a statement made recently by Progressive Democrat leader Dessie O' Malley : where Sinn Fein were actually elected to Local Authorities and had been voted into Office they should then be given the opportunity to discuss "...purely local.." issues on RTE . Arguably , this policy might extend to representatives of Sinn Fein who might find themselves elected to Leinster House at some future date ....... ('1169....' Comment : no 'representative of Sinn Fein
[proper]' would ever stand for election , as a sitting member , to Leinster House , as presently constituted .)
(MORE LATER).

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT : INSIDE THE NORTHERN IRELAND (sic) PEACE TALKS (sic).......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , November 1997 .
By Fionnuala O' Connor .

From top to bottom , Ulster (sic) unionists view the Stormont talks as a threat , not as a 'promise' : at Stormont , most other groups think that far from developing a commitment to negotiation , David Trimble has been trapped - 'sandbagged' , first , by the collapse of the (Westminster) Conservatives , then steadily squeezed by the (P)IRA's snap re-instatement of their ceasefire , pressure from Tony Blair's government , US White House coaxing , and a growing but still only semi-coherent grassroots and middle-level belief among his own Ulster Unionist Party that they face a worse future if no one represents them in negotiations .

The outcome is evident in the behaviour in talks of the UUP : " They are still in two minds , as if they had just wakened up and found that they're in there , " says one observer . On October 25 last , in Newcastle , County Down , the party's annual conference was more relaxed than in recent years , but neither speeches nor delegates' behaviour suggested whole-heartedness . Critics pulled punches , like M.P. Willie Ross , or stayed silent like M.P. Willie Thompson . Several talks participants , including David Trimble , assured the hall that though sharing a building with 'Sinn Fein/IRA' they were not negotiating with them and certainly not 'fraternising' with them , as Trimble put it .

There were wry smiles at the absence of UUP Deputy Leader John Taylor , enigmatic as always , scheduled to lead off the sole conference debate on the talks process , but unable to attend due to illness , the platform announced . Taylor was Trimble's chief rival in the contest that decided the party leadership and never hides his opinion of the David Trimble 'style' - " I say to David , you really must calm down..." , he told a BBC TV 'profile' programme , chortling while he done so .......
(MORE LATER).

THE YOUNGER BREED : ANDY CALLAGHAN.......
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .
No By-Line .

In a speech he made at the Edentubber Martyrs Commemoration in November 1975 , Andy Callaghan stated - " It (Fianna Fail) has spat on every known republican principle and yet has the gall to proclaim that they are guardians of a heroic line from Vinegar Hill to Edentubber . We (he was still with Sinn Fein then !) left it to Jack Lynch to make speeches , we left it to the Stickies to read books on the theory of 'World Revolution' . The rattle of one Thompson is worth more than a library of Marxist pamphlets. "

However , Andy was only 20 at this time : like one or two others who have since joined Fianna Fail , he became disillusioned with the direction the armed struggle was taking and he often cites the Le Mon bombings as his reason for disengaging from Sinn Fein : another reason for quitting was that he had begun to teach English at the C.U.S. School , Leeson Street , Dublin , in 1978 - he did his H.Diploma there and remained on the full-time staff until 1983 , when he left his teaching post (in June of that year) , a little over a year after his father's death , and joined his brother Joe in the family's painting and decorating business .

That business is moderately successful and , ironically , last year (ie 1985) picked-up a contract to paint the Curragh (Free State) Army Camp - that one-time prison for republicans.......
(MORE LATER).

THE RIGHT TO SILENCE.......
Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act has just been renewed for another year by State Communications Minister Jim Mitchell , despite increasing protests and lobbying by the NUJ .
HELEN O'CONNOR examines the results of a recent NIHE survey of the attitudes of Dublin people on the issue and GERRY LAVERY looks back to the roots of Section 31 .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , February 1987 .

General Secretary of the (Free State) Labour Party , Ray Kavanagh , calls Charlie Haughey's statements about the possible lifting of Section 31 censorship "...mere opportunism.." - according to Kavanagh , if Charlie Haughey ever got into power he would do exactly what he said he would do and seek the advice of the State's 'security advisors' : " And what would they say ? They would say 'No' . And that would be the end of Fianna Fail getting rid of Section 31. "

As for the Labour Party supporters polled in relation to Section 31 censorship , seven out of every ten disapproved of the restrictions imposed by the Act , and the same number favoured giving Sinn Fein access to the airwaves . The Labour Party does not have a current policy on this form of censorship ('1169...' Comment : if it affected them , policy on the issue would be coming out their ears!) but the matter is coming up for debate at their conference in May , 1987 : " There are opposing views inside the party . You can take it for granted that if we were very much against it , we'd be saying so , " , says Ray Kavanagh who , when asked , cannot remember any Labour Party leader coming out with any statement on the matter for the eleven years that he has been a member !

The poll also showed that Progressive Democrat supporters were not of the same mind as their party leadership in relation to Section 31 censorship.......
(MORE LATER).

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT : INSIDE THE NORTHERN IRELAND (sic) PEACE TALKS (sic).
From 'MAGILL' magazine , November 1997 .
By Fionnuala O' Connor .

One month on , many in the North of Ireland are still amazed that unionists are now inside a talks process in Stormont's Castle Buildings with the (Provisional) IRA's political wing , (Provisional) Sinn Fein .

Outside the talks , Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble is berated at supposedly 'United Unionist' rallies organised by the 'Reverend' Ian Paisley and the M.P. Bob McCartney , for being duped by 'pan-nationalism' . A series of past leaders have trembled , then fallen , under such attacks : but the rallies have drawn steadily smaller crowds .

As importantly for Trimble's nerve , the mood at his party's annual conference (on October 25 last) suggested that staying in the talks meets general 'Ulster Unionist Party' acceptance . But not their enthusiasm .......
(MORE LATER).

THE YOUNGER BREED : ANDY CALLAGHAN.......
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .
No By-Line .

Andy Callaghan , or rather 'Aindreas O' Ceallachain' as he was then known , joined Sinn Fein while at UCD , which was "...in the wake of Bloody Sunday... " , as he puts it himself . His rise to the top within the Movement was quickly aided by a leadership anxious to approve of his undoubted rhetorical skills , and he became a member of the Ard Comhairle (party leadership) in 1976 and again in 1977 .

His oration at Maire Drumm's graveside , after her assassination in hospital in October 1976 , was the highpoint in a long list of speaking engagements for young Andy .

That speech was unremarkable , at what was a low-key Republican funeral , although there was a firing party : indeed , the most memorable ingredient of that occasion was the presence of British actress Vanessa Redgrave . An earlier speech which Andy Callaghan made , in November 1975 , leaves him with a lot more explaining to do to his new-found friends in Fianna Fail .......
(MORE LATER).

THE RIGHT TO SILENCE.......
Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act has just been renewed for another year by State Communications Minister Jim Mitchell , despite increasing protests and lobbying by the NUJ .
HELEN O'CONNOR examines the results of a recent NIHE survey of the attitudes of Dublin people on the issue and GERRY LAVERY looks back to the roots of Section 31 .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , February 1987 .

Six out of every ten Fianna Fail voters disapproved of Section 31 censorship , and eight out of every ten Fianna Fail supporters favoured allowing Sinn Fein access to the media . These figures are proof of Fianna Fail's shaky stance on Section 31 in the last few weeks , according to Niall Meehan -

" Fianna Fail have traditionally a more working class vote in the Dublin area than either Fine Gael or the PD's , so they have more to lose by denying Sinn Fein access , because Sinn Fein are at their strongest in those areas of Dublin. "

John Doyle of Sinn Fein stated - " With increased Sinn Fein community work in working class Dublin , Fianna Fail are certainly feeling the pinch . " Doyle says that Fianna Fail had to do all in their power to win back support that might have gone Sinn Fein's way so they had to be seen to make some moves on the Section 31 restriction . And those Fianna Fail 'moves' in relation to that censorship Act left Charlie Haughey and Fianna Fail open to an attack from other Leinster House organisations .......
(MORE LATER).

Monday, June 05, 2006

MacGIOLLA's GUERRILLAS .......
Fifteen years ago , the leadership of the 'Official Republican Movement' (now 'The Workers' Party') stated that their armed wing , the 'Official IRA' , went out of existence .
Today , the 'Official IRA' is alive and well and living mainly in Belfast and Newry . In the days when both organisations were operating in an overt way , the leadership of 'The Workers' Party' and the 'Official IRA' overlapped to a certain degree .
Tomas MacGiolla , the man who led the 'Official IRA' for the last twenty-five years has always maintained the position that the 'Official IRA' went out of existence in 1972 . But the 'Official IRA' still march on , not an army fighting the British , but as a fund-collecting agency .
DEREK DUNNE traces the roots of the 'Official IRA' and 'The Workers' Party' .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , October 1987 .

With the passing of Tomas MacGiolla from the leadership , The Workers' Party is in a way signalling a change of direction ; the leadership of that party claims that the Official IRA 'went out of existance after 1972' - yet , the fact remains that in the 1980's there are people appearing in court claiming to be members of this 'non-existant' organisation .

The question is not really whether or not the Official IRA exists : the question is what they are now doing with their guns - it would appear from their behaviour in Newry and Belfast that they have sunk to an all-time low and have degenerated , just as their INLA counterparts have degenerated , into self-motivated thugs .

Both the Official IRA and the INLA are two parts of the same monster that came out of the split with the Provos in 1969/1970 - the Official IRA are not armed to support their politics . The question posed at the Mornington conference in relation to militarists turning towards politics has never really been fully resolved .
[END of 'MacGIOLLA's GUERRILLAS' .]
(Tomorrow : 'THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT-The 'Peace Talks' ' - from 1997.)

THE YOUNGER BREED : ANDY CALLAGHAN.
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .
No By-Line .

One of the more curious young Turk's mingling among the ranks of the 'Soldiers of Destiny' during last weekend's Ard Fheis ('annual meeting') was Councillor Andy Callaghan .

Thirty-year-old Andy was formerly a bright star in Sinn Fein , but he was elected to Dublin Corporation on the Fianna Fail 'ticket' in Crumlin , Dublin , last June (ie 1985) . Now he is pushing very hard for a nomination in Dublin South Central .

Despite his early apprenticeship in Sinn Fein , Andy Callaghan is typical enough of the hungry new breed of Fianna Failer's swelling the ranks since the local elections of 1985 - "...rugged individualists ... " is the euphemism most often quoted by senior Fianna Fail party figures to describe them .......
(MORE LATER).

THE RIGHT TO SILENCE.......
Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act has just been renewed for another year by State Communications Minister Jim Mitchell , despite increasing protests and lobbying by the NUJ .
HELEN O'CONNOR examines the results of a recent NIHE survey of the attitudes of Dublin people on the issue and GERRY LAVERY looks back to the roots of Section 31 .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , February 1987 .

A just-published survey of the attitude of the Dublin population to Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act , by Niall Meehan and Jean Horgan of the 'National (sic) Institute of Higher Education' in Dublin concludes that only the supporters of Fine Gael are in favour of Section 31 , and only then by a small percentage gap .

The survey covers an area where ninty per-cent of the population have acess to BBC and ITV where no such reporting restrictions exists , and ironically , most cable viewers get these foreign channels relayed to them by a subsidiary of RTE itself !

Overall , the survey finds that fifty-three per-cent of all Dublin people dis-approve of Section 31 censorship and that over three-quarters of all people polled thought it should not apply to Local or General Election candidates , no matter what their creed or politics : one question specifically enquired as to whether Sinn Fein should be allowed express their opinion on RTE and all party supporters right across the board were in favour of allowing that .......
(MORE LATER).

Friday, June 02, 2006

MacGIOLLA's GUERRILLAS .......
Fifteen years ago , the leadership of the 'Official Republican Movement' (now 'The Workers' Party') stated that their armed wing , the 'Official IRA' , went out of existence .
Today , the 'Official IRA' is alive and well and living mainly in Belfast and Newry . In the days when both organisations were operating in an overt way , the leadership of 'The Workers' Party' and the 'Official IRA' overlapped to a certain degree .
Tomas MacGiolla , the man who led the 'Official IRA' for the last twenty-five years has always maintained the position that the 'Official IRA' went out of existence in 1972 . But the 'Official IRA' still march on , not an army fighting the British , but as a fund-collecting agency .
DEREK DUNNE traces the roots of the 'Official IRA' and 'The Workers' Party' .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , October 1987 .

In 1980 , a Mr. Josie McKee was shot dead by the UVF: McKee was an Official IRA man who had involved himself with the theft of a load of washing machines from the Docks . The UVF were in on the job , but McKee held onto some of the money himself . The UVF shot him dead at his place of work , and there followed a hurried meeting between the Official IRA and the UVF . Workers' Party representatives went on television and radio and pointed out that the killing was sectarian and that anybody with any information should pass it on to the RUC .

Every Christmas , Official IRA collections for 'Republican Prisoners' are made in West Belfast : the Official IRA had by now only a few prisoners left in jail . Shops are also approached . One chemists shop on the Falls Road which at first declined to 'contribute' had return visits from the collectors ....

The inherent contradictions within The Workers' Party itself are also mirrored in the lifestyles of some of its members : for example , Seamus Lynch , the Belfast WP Councillor , lives in the well-off Antrim Road area and has been known to take elocution lessons . He used to be a Belfast docker and was a political internee , and is frequently seen on television . Following a 'Today Tonight' TV programme outlining some of the excesses of the Official IRA in Belfast , Seamus Lynch was asked for his reaction and he claimed that the programme was "...politically motivated.." .

Some people in the South , especially younger voters who had some leanings towards The Workers' Party , were less than impressed with his performance.......
(MORE LATER).

SHANE ROSS : PLAYING THE ORANGE CARD .......
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , February 1984 .
No By-Line.

Compared to the endless search for realistic initiatives by his respected fellow (State) Senator John Robb , Shane Ross's agonising about the anti-loyalist attitudes in the South of Ireland seems to many just as intolerant and predictable as the "...fundamentalist bible thumping.." he so regularly lambasts . Obviously he enjoys preaching to his own converted , but he appears incapable of reaching out to a wider audience .

Shane Ross still has friends in very high places , many of them carefully attended to with gin 'n' tonics and fancy patter : but even with this , his narrow support base and insular thinking will probably ensure that he never gets the opportunity to shoot his mouth off where it matters most * - Leinster House . ('1169....' Comment * - but that's not where "it matters most" : one more self-serving careerist in that vile institution will make little difference to those of us who are judged by them to have only one function - to maintain them in the style they have become accustomed to.)
[END of 'SHANE ROSS : PLAYING THE ORANGE CARD'.]
(Monday , 5th June - ' THE YOUNGER BREED: ANDY CALLAGHAN' - from 1986.)

THE RIGHT TO SILENCE.
Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act has just been renewed for another year by State Communications Minister Jim Mitchell , despite increasing protests and lobbying by the NUJ .
HELEN O'CONNOR examines the results of a recent NIHE survey of the attitudes of Dublin people on the issue and GERRY LAVERY looks back to the roots of Section 31 .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , February 1987 .

When Rhonda Paisley , DUP , sits back in her easychair on 7 March next (1987) as 'Hostess' of RTE's 'Saturday Night Live' programme , and , acting as a representative of some of 'the other traditions' on this isle , interviews her father , Ian Paisley , DUP , and Sammy Wilson , Mayor of Belfast , DUP , she won't have to worry about Provos or Sinn Feiners answering her back .

Because of the operation of Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act , they won't be there , along with the members of the other groups proscribed by the Act , including the INLA , the UVF and the UDA . And judging by the policies of the main political parties as regards Section 31 they won't be there for quite a while to come . The only opposition in Leinster House to the renewal of Section 31 on 19 January last came from Tomas MacGiolla of The Workers' Party who said it was "...anti-democratic , riddled with anomalies and should therefore be repealed.. " .

Other than that it was passed for another year without comment . Despite recent ambivalence , Fianna Fail still regards Section 31 as a 'necessary evil' , while Fine Gael and the 'Progressive Democrats' maintain a policy of keeping it there . And no Labour Party leader has made a statement on it for over eleven years.......
(MORE LATER).

Thursday, June 01, 2006

MacGIOLLA's GUERRILLAS .......
Fifteen years ago , the leadership of the 'Official Republican Movement' (now 'The Workers' Party') stated that their armed wing , the 'Official IRA' , went out of existence .
Today , the 'Official IRA' is alive and well and living mainly in Belfast and Newry . In the days when both organisations were operating in an overt way , the leadership of 'The Workers' Party' and the 'Official IRA' overlapped to a certain degree .
Tomas MacGiolla , the man who led the 'Official IRA' for the last twenty-five years has always maintained the position that the 'Official IRA' went out of existence in 1972 . But the 'Official IRA' still march on , not an army fighting the British , but as a fund-collecting agency .
DEREK DUNNE traces the roots of the 'Official IRA' and 'The Workers' Party' .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , October 1987 .

Many members of The Workers' Party in the North of Ireland have 'legally' held handguns : some have .38 Smith and Wesson Specials . The Official IRA have structured meetings with loyalist organisations , and co-operated and continue to co-operate in operating the building site racket whereby watchmen are loyal to them .

During the general election this year , a youth in West Belfast moved posters down a lampost in order to put up the tricolour : he was accused by Workers' Party people of tearing down their posters - two weeks ago (ie September 1987) he was outside an off-licence with friends when three men who represented themselves as members of the Official IRA broke a cider bottle and pushed it into his head .

Up to two years ago , two members of the Workers' Party in Belfast ran all the building-site rackets : they were taking up to £30 per week off each worker , but somebody did their sums and discovered that there was £50,000 short and the two were elbowed aside . There are also regular meetings between the RUC and the Official IRA , or what remains of it - they would have no more than thirty or forty members who go back a long way and can be trusted politically and militarily , and there is also an extraordinary degree of co-operation with the UDA/UVF : the Josie McKee case is as good an example as any .......
(MORE LATER).

SHANE ROSS : PLAYING THE ORANGE CARD .......
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , February 1984 .
No By-Line.

Shane Ross has called for the abolition of the (Free State) Constitution ("...a reactionary instrument..") , the (State) Presidency (".. a humdrum bore..") , Irish neutrality ("...only a doctrinaire commitment..") , proportional representation ("...another sacred cow..") and the "...fairyland (Constitutional) Forum.." .

Ross has not yet told us what he would put in their place , and confines himself to constant belly-aching about our "...sabre rattling.." to the Northern Unionists ; our "...ambiguous fellow-travelling attitude to the terrorists.." ; the "...dictation by celibates.." on public morality and the like .

Gestures of friendship and good neighbourliness are required , says Mr. Ross , because really you know , the majority up North is'nt all that intransigent.......
(MORE LATER).

REPUBLICANS AND YOUTH .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983.
By Jack Madden.

A survey conducted in Dublin last year by Na Fianna Eireann revealed the result of failure to the youth on this isle : conducted among the young unemployed , the survey confirmed the degree of youth alienation from establishment parties but also showed that a large majority considered Sinn Fein to be only 'fair' or even 'poor' in terms of its relevance to young people's interests .

Platitudes about the tragedy of youth unemployment are not enough and the Republican Movement - besides developing radical policies on issues such as child-care and education - needs to evaluate its attitudes to schemes such as the State Youth Employment Agency and towards the voluntary organisations working with young people , such as unemployment groups . It is high time such work was begun .
[END of 'REPUBLICANS AND YOUTH'.]
(Tomorrow : ' THE RIGHT TO SILENCE' - from 1987.)

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Apologises for the late post : 'Google/Blogger' had issues and we were unable to post until a few minutes ago . Should this occur again and you find that '1169...' has not being updated on 'Blogspot' , then please try here , a 'mirror' site we also post on . Go raibh maith agat .

MacGIOLLA's GUERRILLAS .......
Fifteen years ago , the leadership of the 'Official Republican Movement' (now 'The Workers' Party') stated that their armed wing , the 'Official IRA' , went out of existence .
Today , the 'Official IRA' is alive and well and living mainly in Belfast and Newry . In the days when both organisations were operating in an overt way , the leadership of 'The Workers' Party' and the 'Official IRA' overlapped to a certain degree .
Tomas MacGiolla , the man who led the 'Official IRA' for the last twenty-five years has always maintained the position that the 'Official IRA' went out of existence in 1972 . But the 'Official IRA' still march on , not an army fighting the British , but as a fund-collecting agency .
DEREK DUNNE traces the roots of the 'Official IRA' and 'The Workers' Party' .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , October 1987 .

The Workers Party own the 'Trevor Hill Drinking Club' in Newry , County Down , which is run by party members . In Belfast , they have clubs in Twinbrook , Turf Lodge , Short Strad , the Markets area , Cyprus Street and North Queen Street . The party also owns a bar in Bawnmore .

The Official IRA in Belfast still have a good supply of weapons ; they are heavily involved in racketeering , intimidation , extortion and blackmail . Two years ago (ie 1985) Karen Walsh attended a disco in Glinchin : Workers' Party election workers came in and started to pin badges on people - Karen Walsh made it clear that she did'nt want anything to do with them . When she emerged from the disco there were men waiting in the bushes outside : she was pistol-whipped and a breeze-block was thrown on her legs . Her screams brought local residents out and the men fled , but returned later and knocked at a few doors but left when they were confronted by residents .

A car belonging to John Lowry , a Workers' Party spokesman in Belfast , remained at the scene : local kids took election material from the car and burnt the material , and also did some damage to the car . A few days later , Jamsie McMullin was shot ad kneecapped by people claiming to represent the Official IRA . Following this , John Lowry said that the Workers' Party was not involved with the shooting and that any information should be passed on to the RUC.......
(MORE LATER).

SHANE ROSS : PLAYING THE ORANGE CARD .......
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , February 1984 .
No By-Line.

The other 'big cog' in Shane Ross's electoral machine is his talented wife Ruth Buchanan , whose contacts in RTE and in the Church Of Ireland (she is the daughter of Archbishop Buchanan) are still important , and her input into the early campaigns was crucial .

Shane Ross is a glib social mixer "...full of all the necessary nonsense.." , says one associate , and very popular in the bar at Leinster House . He and P.J. Mara , Charlie Haughey's aide , are as thick as thieves . Politically , though , Ross is something of a mixed bag , regularly proclaiming his independence from party interests yet leaning towards Fine Gael: he has pushed through or initiated motions in the Seanad on extradition , divorce and Garret Fitzgerald's 'Constitutional Crusade'.

But much though he may cherish , and broadcast , his ability to raise issues sensitive to party politicians , one gets the impression that the realities of politics are lost on him.......
(MORE LATER).

REPUBLICANS AND YOUTH .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983.
By Jack Madden.

For years emigration existed as the easy way to forget youth : the unemployed and 'malcontents' could always be expected to leave the country , and to leave the political system which had betrayed them , unchallenged . From birth to emigration the needs of youth were ignored , while an exam-orientated education system geared (and continues to gear) children towards expectations which the State could not fulfil .

Nowadays , with emigration no longer an option , many youth - on leaving school and being confronted with the trauma of the dole queue - are drifting into a morass of apathy , or at best into an undirected hostility towards society .

This antagonism , unfortunately , extends to all political parties , left and right , and it has been helped by the consistent failure of a radical movement such as Sinn Fein to show that an alternative is possible which will be beneficial to today's youth.......
(MORE LATER).