1169 And Counting.....

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

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

" We must prepare and organise in all Six Counties to oppose publicly any effort to swallow such a British oath for a future Stormont which would belittle and degrade the Republican cause. Likewise we must oppose any attempt to participate in yet another 'New Stormont' or the Westminster Parliament itself, in the name of Ireland and Irish Republicanism. This is our Republican duty and we must fulfill it at all costs.

In the European election in June last we took a vigorous stand on the undemocratic nature of the emerging superpower that has not only impoverished our people since 1972, as admitted most recently by the 'National Economic and Social Council' report , but is also imposing extradition and other edicts from Brussels and is sucking us into the political wing of NATO. The only proper protest was to refuse to vote for any candidate and thereby say no to a European Imperialist Superpower......."

(MORE LATER).

MURDERER , LIAR , OR BOTH.......?
(* '1169...' Comment - their word, not ours.)
From 'MAGILL' magazine, December 1997. By Ursula Halligan.

Sean O'Callaghan said that, to the best of his knowledge, John Corcoran did leave a message for his family on the tape used by the IRA to record his confession and that he said he loved his family. O'Callaghan said he gave instructions for this tape to be sent to Mrs Corcoran and was told it had been sent , and that he can't understand why she never received it.

Asked if Mrs Corcoran deserved a better response to her questions , O'Callaghan said - "The description of how he [John Corcoran] was killed is true in most of the specifics. I'm just not confirming or denying that it was me that murdered* him. But , what I'm absolutely sure about is that I did absolutely everything I could do to save his life."

O'Callaghan insisted that he warned his garda handler several times that John Corcoran's life was in danger and pleaded for an intervention by them. He said he contacted his handler on several occasions and even gave him the exact location where Corcoran was being held. He said the response was : "Okay , okay, we're working on it. We'll handle it." After the murder* , he said that he was unhappy and upset with his handler and that their relationship was never the same. He said the handler told him to "...put these things out of his mind.."
(MORE LATER).

Renowned political right-winger and the man ultimately responsible for the 2006 'Love Ulster' Loyalist/ UVF / Combat 18 Dublin riots, Michael McDowell (pictured) has, once again, shown his true colours : he has called for an 'Official Holiday' to be held each year on July 12th , the main 'Marching Day' of his politically like-minded colleagues in the 'Orange Order' !

Mr McDowell would appear to be in some 'I-Love-The-Brits-More-Than-You-Do' - competition or other with this 'Irish Royal' (pictured with UDA leader , Jackie McDonald) who has recently called for praise to be heaped on the occupying forces in the North-East of Ireland....

Those two people are mere representations of many in Ireland who would happily deny their own nationhood and its values for a place at, or under, the 'establishment' - any 'establishment' - table , from where those they admire can sneeringly point at them and declare them to be 'our type' of preferred 'subject'.

This wee , insignificant blog takes this opportunity to those of our readers who mistakingly believe that the above actions are common to all Irish people - that is most certainly not the case : that despicable and disgusting point-of-view is only held here by those who have always been morally lost and politically bankrupt and should not be mistaken for 'the voice of the Irish'. We am embarrassed and ashamed for them.

AND FINALLY....

- I'm off now to organise a trip to the hairdressers , so as I can get my hair done in order that I can 'let it down' for this!
If you can make it - I would appreciate if you didn't comment , publicly (!) , on the state of my hair. Or on the state of the rest of me...!
Thanks!
Sharon.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

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

" In the event our 23 candidates in ten local government districts were refused nomination and debarred from standing , thus disenfranchising thousands of voters. Many symbolically burned their papers on the steps of Council buildings and called on Republicans not to vote in a sham election.

We pointed out then , and I repeat here today , that elected councillors in the Six Counties who in 1985 declared their "undivided allegiance" to the Irish Republic of 1916 and 1919, in 1989 publicly repudiated the Republican Movement and accepted the criminalisation of the freedom struggle by taking the political test oath.

Sinn Féin Poblachtach succeeded in getting the support of Newry and Mourne District Council in opposing the oath , and we conducted a Six County-wide leafletting drive to explain our position to Nationalist and Republican voters and the widespread withdrawal of support for those who swallowed the political test oath in the polls on May 18th , particularly in areas West of the Bann , indicated that our advice not to vote was taken by thousands of Republicans....... "
(MORE LATER).

MURDERER , LIAR , OR BOTH.......?
(* '1169...' Comment - their word, not ours.)
From 'MAGILL' magazine, December 1997. By Ursula Halligan.

Seán O'Callaghan said that John Corcoran was shot at approximately 5pm on Friday 22nd March 1995 , in a field outside a farmhouse in Milltown , County Kerry , where he had been brought the night before.

He would not confirm his previous stories that he was present at the time of the murder*. All he would say was that he spoke to John Corcoran on the day he died and that Corcoran was very calm. He also said that he had nothing to do with the dumping of the body and that this was handled by two local IRA men . He sais Mrs Corcoran could be sure of a number of things -

" What she knows for sure is that the IRA murdered* her husband (and) that I would have been in a position to know 95 per-cent of the facts surrounding the entire business. If she wants to talk to me in May when the book comes out , I will be pleased to talk to her......."
(MORE LATER).

ON SATURDAY , 7th AUGUST 2010 , A MARCH FOR POLITICAL STATUS FOR IRISH REPUBLICAN PRISONERS WILL BE HELD IN BELFAST. Those attending are asked to assemble at Dunville Park
at 1.30pm , from where the parade will leave for Castle Street. Amongst those who will address the gathering will be POW's who spent time on the Blanket Protest.
ALL WELCOME!

LIDL SUPERMARKET CHAIN - TEN YEARS WHERE...?

For the past week or more , Lidl Supermarket have been advertising the fact that tomorrow (Thursday 22nd July 2010) marks their tenth anniversary in this State. We here at this blog are surprised that Lidl know where they are, and we are still waiting for a reply to a query we put to them more than one year ago. And, apparently , they still don't know what country they are in although , so it seems , they know where their employees are.
Perhaps in the next ten years we'll get a reply from them....

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

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

" We are not afraid of the facts. Nor are we afraid of open debate about these facts - the full story of what Sinn Féin Poblachtach stands for and stood for over the years. The very reluctance of our opponents to engage in such debate , the ongoing mis-representation and black propaganda is proof , if proof were needed , that the attempt to cloud the real issues , the core values of Irish Republicanism , is not exactly an accident. Cuirimís chuige más ea.

In the Six Counties our organisation , in line with policy decided at last year's Ard-Fheis , geared itself up early this year to contest the local elections in May . What the political test oath for candidates in that election meant was spelled out clearly by us in our Easter statement - we had no intention of disowning publicly the Irish Republican Army , Cumann na mBan and Na Fianna Éireann , neither were we going to deny the right common to all people to use armed struggle as a last resort in striving to free their country from foreign invasion , occupation , oppression and exploitation.

Our candidates pledged to expose Mrs Thatcher's restrictions on free elections and deny the British an opportunity to tell the world that 100% of candidates swallowed her politically restrictive oath. With the election slogan 'For the Voice of True Republicanism , Vote Sinn Féin Poblachtach' , our manifesto promised to work for the restoration of Irish democracy and an end to British interference....."
(MORE LATER).

MURDERER , LIAR , OR BOTH........?
(* '1169...' Comment - their word, not ours.)
From 'MAGILL' magazine, December 1997. By Ursula Halligan.

Seán O' Callaghan said John Corcoran was used by the IRA for low-level activity , such as driving IRA members around Cork. He described him as a weak man who crumbled when he was interrogated by the IRA and that , within three minutes of first meeting him he knew instinctively that Corcoran was working for the gardaí -

" He was in danger for a long time. He was always looking for information. He was under pressure to come up with stuff." O'Callaghan said that, in the last weeks of his life, Corcoran had been "....monitoring his movements ..." and was trying to contact him with a "...story.." . O'Callaghan said a 'belfast guy' from the IRA , the head of internal security, was sent to Cork to carry out an investigation into a number of matters.

After meeting Corcoran , claimed O'Callaghan, the 'belfast guy' was immediately suspicious and asked O'Callaghan what was going on ? O'Callaghan said Corcoran's luck ran out shortly afterwards , when he dropped a colleague of the 'Belfast guy' at a house that was subsequently raided by the gardaí. O'Callaghan said that raid directly triggered Corcoran's abduction by the IRA , and that it was senior figures in the IRA who ordered Corcoran's execution : " I was the person given the instruction to kill him by the Chief of Staff," O'Callaghan claimed.......
(MORE LATER).

PAT CANNON COMMEMORATION , DUBLIN - SATURDAY 17th JULY 2010.

Pat Cannon (left) and Peter McElchar.

On Saturday 17th July 1976, two IRA Volunteers on active service - Patrick Cannon from Dublin and Peter McElchar from Donegal - set out in a car in which they were transporting an explosive device. They crossed the border from Donegal into Tyrone and were approaching the town of Castlederg when the device exploded prematurely. It was about 2.15pm.
Peter McElchar was killed instantly. Patrick Cannon was gravely injured and was taken to Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh. He was being transferred to hospital in Belfast when he died....

The Patrick Cannon Commemoration will be held on Saturday , 17th July 2010 , at 11.30am ; the assembly point is at the old Cemetery gates. Bus number 42 from Dublin City Centre will get you there!

POW PICKET , DUBLIN , SATURDAY 17th JULY 2010.

POLITICAL STATUS PICKET , GPO , DUBLIN , SATURDAY 17th JULY 2010, 12.45pm to 1.45pm. All Welcome!
Thanks!
Sharon.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

UPDATE re RSF Hunger-Strikers Commemoration , held in Dublin on Saturday 10th July 2010 :

The following speech was delivered on behalf of Ashleen McKenna, Lurgan, Co Armagh at the GPO in Dublin on Saturday July 10, 2010 , at the RSF Hunger-Strikers Commemoration. Ashleen, who has two brothers incarcerated in Maghaberry Jail, Co Antrim, was unable to travel to Dublin so her speech was read by Pádraig Ennis , Dublin -

"Over the past number of years republican prisoners have been subjected to physical and mental abuse at the hands of the prison wardens [screws] in Roe House, Maghaberry jail in Co Antrim which houses Republican prisoners [POWs].

The POWs have engaged in a number of protests to highlight the conditions in Maghaberry jail. The conditions in Maghaberry jail have led to a political protest, the abuses that the screws inflict on our men are political abuses and the only way to resolve this, is to take it head on in a political context. The tactics of the screws are to humiliate and criminalise the men but these efforts will fail as said by our comrade Bobby Sands “never will they label our liberation struggle as criminal” . Bobby Sands, a POW, stayed true to this statement and so will the POW’S in Maghaberry; they are not asking for much, just basic human rights as the conditions in Maghaberry are inhumane.

The screws treat the POWs with a hostile nature and on a daily basis the POWs are strip searched. This is just a tactic used by the screws to humiliate our men. Over the past year the screws have been actively violent towards the prisoners which has resulted in several POWs being assaulted. The prisoners are subjected to 23-hour lock down with only two meals a day which are served in disposable containers and slid along the floor to the prisoners.

The POWS are denied proper medical facilities; some prisoners have serious health problems and are not getting the medical treatment they need. The POWs domestic visits are stopped when they refuse to strip for the screws. The screws are also using their drug dogs to stop the POWs families from visiting.

This protest began on Easter Sunday of this year when the POWs took control of part of the jail which lasted 48 hours. Since this time the prisoners only get an hour of the day to exercise, phone home, wash their clothes and receive a legal visit. Initially when the protest began the POWs, as part of the protest, didn’t shave or cut their hair. However, because of the lack of response from the prison authorities on improving the conditions, the POWS had no option but to escalate their protest. Because they have no toilet facilities in their cells they commenced a dirty protest to dispose of their waste.

This is an absolute disgrace to expect our POWs to live in such conditions. We need as much help as we can get from the people on the outside to try to resolve this impasse as soon as possible. The conditions are seriously affecting the health of the men; their weight loss, due to lack of proper food and nourishment, is very worrying.

Our comrade Bobby Sands said: “Everyone, Republican or otherwise, has their own particular part to play. No part is too great or too small; no one is too old or too young to do something” .

We the families along with Republican Sinn Féin will continue the protests on the outside which will include pickets, marches and leaflet drops until the five demands of the POWs are met:

1. Right to free association
2. End controlled movement
3. Right to full time education
4. End to strip searching
5. Adequate medical facilities

POLITICAL STATUS NOW! VICTORY TO THE POWs!"
Ashleen McKenna, Lurgan, Co Armagh, 10th July 2010.

The following speech was delivered by Shane O'Toole at the RSF Hunger-Strikers Commemoration,Dublin, on Saturday 10th July 2010 -

"A Chairde,

It’s an honour for me to address you all here today, the Republican people of Ireland. Twenty nine years ago ten Irish soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of all the people of Ireland. One by one ten young Irish volunteers embarked an agonizing hunger strike to insure basic human rights and dignity of the right to political status for Republican Prisoners of War. These young Irish soldiers were imprisoned by an illegal force of occupation. They refused to allow Britain to criminalise Ireland’s historic eight-hundred-year fight for freedom.

After five long years on the blanket and dirty protest no real gains had been made towards restoring political status and the decision was made by the prisoners to go on hunger strike. On May 5, 1981 Bobby Sands died after sixty-six days on hunger strike. One hundred thousand people attended his funeral. Marches and demonstrations were held over the world in support of the Republican prisoners. The true face of British Rule in Ireland had been exposed to the world but still the British government refused the right to political status. It took the deaths of nine more Volunteers for political status to be restored.

Twenty-nine years on and the face of British Rule in Ireland has not changed, the only difference being they are now backed by their Provo puppets, who signed away the right to political status in yet another treaty of surrender. The Provos surrendered the weapons given to them for the freedom Ireland. They have sullied the memory of the ten brave men and all those who gave their lives for Irish freedom.

These former Republicans try to give the lie that there are no longer any political prisoners in Ireland. The fact is that as long as there is any British presence in Ireland there will always be those brave Irish men and women who will resist the occupation of our country, and therefore as long as Britain occupies any part of Ireland there will always be political prisoners in Ireland.

Today the Republican prisoners in Maghaberry face the same fight for political status inside a British prison in Ireland. The conditions inside Maghaberry have been deteriorating over the past few months and just like in 1981 the prisons are being used to try and break the spirit of Republican prisoners. They did not succeed then nor will they succeed today.

The spirit of the ten brave men lives on in the Republican prisoners today. After exhausting every other avenue the Republican prisoners have been forced into embarking on a dirty protest to try and bring to an end the inhuman conditions which they are being forced to live in. 1981 saw the deaths of ten Irish soldiers before political status was restored. We must ensure that these events never have to happen again to win back the Republican prisoners right to political status.

We, the true Republican people of Ireland, pledge our full support to the prisoners and their families and will continue to fight for political status. We uphold the right of the Irish people to take up arms against an illegal force of occupation, and we salute the men and women who will give the cutting edge in the fight to finally end the illegal occupation of Ireland.

Until every last British soldier has been driven from Irish soil and the Butchers Apron flies no more the war against the Brits can and must continue until freedom has been achieved, and the responsibility for any loss of life will lie firmly at the doorstep of the British government.

There are those who have tried to undermine the Republican Movement in recent times. These so called Republicans have disgraced themselves and have no place within Republicanism. After being overwhelmingly rejected at last years’ Ard Fheis, egos of certain people have been damaged and when positions of power they so desperately wanted had not gone their way. They resorted to doing the Brits dirty work, taking cheap shots and releasing statements with unfounded rubbish.

The Republican movement has enjoyed over 100 years of unbroken continuity and we will not allow the actions of these people to derail that. The attempts to normalise British rule in Ireland is in full flow and we have seen this with the announcement by the Free State administration that they are to bring the Queen of England on an official visit to the 26 County state. Republican Sinn Féin will vigorously oppose any visit to any part of Ireland by any British royal as long as Britain remains to occupy any part of our country. She is the head of the State that has oppressed and occupied our people for more than eight-hundred years. We call on all of the people of Ireland to fall in behind us in our opposition to this visit. Let us move forward and end partition and create a New Ireland, ÉIRE NUA, for all of its people so that future generations can live free and decide then our destiny, just as the men of 1916 fought and died for.

We follow on in the footsteps of Tone, Pearse and Sands and will stay true to the cause so many before us have so bravely given their lives for. We will not betray the memory of our fallen heroes.

We send a clear message to the Brits either signal your intent to leave Ireland for good or you will be met with the full force of the Republican movement and Ireland’s sons and daughters will drive you out.

Stay true to the cause of Irish freedom!!Victory to the POWs
An Phoblacht Abu ! "
Shane O'Toole, Saturday July 10th 2010.

Both speeches were followed by loud and sustained applause by the hundreds of people present.
Sharon.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

22 IRISH HUNGER-STRIKERS COMMEMORATED IN DUBLIN , SATURDAY JULY 10th 2010.

The RSF Colour Party and Cumann na mBan members stand to attention as the Piper plays a lament in memory of the 22 Hunger-Strikers.

Forming-up on the isle at the GPO.

On a wet , overcast and very 'clammy' (25 degrees Celsius) Saturday afternoon in the centre of Dublin city - on the traffic isle facing the GPO in O' Connell street - and for the 92nd successive year (ie since 1918) the Republican Movement held a commemoration in Dublin to commemorate those that have died on hunger-strike in this on-going struggle for complete Irish Freedom.
Watched by a crowd of, at times , 500-strong (most people were intimidated away from the traffic isle by the uniformed and plain-clothed State police and, instead, observed and supported proceedings from the footpaths on both sides of O' Connell Street) , members of Na Fianna Éireann ,Cumann na mBan and an RSF Colour Party followed a Piper from the Garden Of Remembrance to the traffic isle , where they took up position, facing the GPO. The proceedings were Chaired by Andy Connolly , Dublin, who welcomed the crowd , explaining why it was that RSF were there , mentioning the POW's in Portlaoise and Maghaberry , and highlighting the on-going political situation in this country regarding the unwelcome British military and political presence. Andy then called on the first speaker, Shane O'Toole, to deliver his speech, followed by RSF President , Des Dalton both of whom referred to the fact that, at the time each of those twenty-two men lay dying , the representatives of both States - Leinster House and Westminster - regarded them as 'dissidents unworthy of political status'.
Over 500 'booklets' of Irish Republican leaflets (each 'booklet' consisting of three different leaflets) were distributed during the 90-minute period with many tourists , in particular, looking for more information re the situation in the Occupied Six Counties. Despite the bad weather , the organisers are to be congratulated for holding such a dignified and fitting tribute to the twenty-two hunger-strikers , and it is to the credit of both Shane and Des that they held the crowd at the venue. Andy brought proceedings to an end by asking the Piper , Seán , to play our National Anthem on the bagpipes , which received a sustained round of applause from the hundreds of on-lookers , native and foreign!

We publish with this post a few pictures from the proceedings today , with a proper report to be published in the August 2010 issue of 'Saoirse' , which goes to print on Wednesday 11th of that month.

RSF President , Des Dalton , one of the two speakers at the Hunger-Strike Commemoration in Dublin today , and.....

.....Shane O'Toole , the second speaker at the Commemoration today.

Hunger-Strike banner on display in O'Connell Street , Dublin, today.

Na Fianna Éireann , RSF Colour Party and Cumann na mBan at the GPO , Dublin, Saturday 10th July 2010, paying tribute to the 22 Irish Hunger-Strikers.

Finally , thanks to Frank , Robbie , Aisling , Mags , Paddy E. and Carl, amongst others, for the work they put in today - appreciated by all!
And thanks to you , for reading!
Sharon.

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

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

"The other more recently departed group has added insult to injury by getting into the 'Empty Formula' business before changing its name. At least de Valera and company had the decency to change their party name to 'Fianna Fáil' before soiling the honour of their Sinn Féin background by subscribing to the Oath to the British King then required for entry into Leinster House.

The people of the 26 Counties will have , in the next local elections, their first opportunity to express an opinion on these matters. It is up to us to make sure that everybody is fully aware of what is involved , in spite of the mis-representation . It is a challenge to which all real Irish Republicans must respond.

It will require hard work and dedication and , I regret to say, an intense education programme on the part of loyal Cumann members as well as elected Councillors and Head Office , directed towards a younger generation. Many are confused and ill-informed . Lies , propaganda , dishonest history-writing or even the withdrawal of significant historical facts from some school courses have all ensured an air of unreality and uncertainty about our case and our Cause - about the Cause of Irish Republicanism......."

(MORE LATER).

MURDERER* , LIAR , OR BOTH?
(* '1169...' Comment - their word, not ours.)
From 'MAGILL' magazine, December 1997. By Ursula Halligan.

We contacted Seán O' Callaghan and put a number of the questions raised by Mrs Corcoran in her interview with us about the murder* of her husband in 1985. Initially , O' Callaghan said the whole issue was a ".....hideously complicated business..." and that the only thing he was prepared to say was that everything would be clarified when his book was published in May of next year (1998) . " It will be the definitive account," he said.

He would neither confirm nor deny the previous accounts he gave to newspapers on how he murdered* John Corcoran : " It's a much more complicated story than I may have given the impression. Sometimes, in these situations , there were reasons why I chose to say things , " he said , saying, again , that the book would explain everything and that people would be in for "....a shock.." . When asked whether this meant he was saying he did not kill John Corcoran , he refused to confirm or deny the suggestion.

However , Sean O' Callaghan said there was hardly a day that passed when he did not think of Mrs. Corcoran and her family . " I'm desperately sorry for what happened to John Corcoran, " he said. When asked whether he would apologise to Mrs Corcoran for murdering* her husband , he replied - " I can't say that , it's very, very complicated......."
(MORE LATER).

Between 1917 and 1981 , 22 Irish Republican POW's died on hunger-strike. A Rally in honour of these men will be held in Dublin on Saturday 10th July 2010....

Thomas Ashe, Kerry, 5 days, 25 September 1917 (force fed by tube , died as a result).
Terence MacSwiney, Cork, 74 days, 25 October 1920.
Michael Fitzgerald, Cork, 67 days, 17 October 1920.
Joseph Murphy, Cork, 76 days , 25 October 1920 .
Joe Witty, Wexford , 2 September 1923.
Dennis Barry, Cork, 34 days, 20 November 1923.
Andy O Sullivan , Cork, 40 days, 22 November 1923.
Tony Darcy, Galway, 52 days, 16 April 1940.
Jack 'Sean' McNeela, Mayo, 55 days, 19 April 1940.
Sean McCaughey, Tyrone ,22 days, 11 May 1946 (hunger and thirst Strike).
Michael Gaughan, Mayo , 64 days, 3 June 1974.
Frank Stagg, Mayo , 62 days, 12 February 1976.
Bobby Sands, Belfast , 66 days, 5 May 1981.
Frank Hughes , Bellaghy (Derry) , 59 days, 12 May 1981.
Raymond McCreesh , South Armagh , 61 days, 21 May 1981.
Patsy O Hara , Derry , 61 days, 21 May 1981.
Joe McDonnell , Belfast , 61 days, 8 July 1981.
Martin Hurson , Tyrone , 46 days, 13 July 1981.
Kevin Lynch, Dungiven (Derry) ,71 days, 1 August 1981.
Kieran Doherty , Belfast , 73 days, 2 August 1981.
Tom McIlwee , Bellaghy (Derry) , 62 days, 8 August 1981.
Micky Devine , Derry , 60 days, 20 August 1981.

The hunger strike is part of a very ancient Irish tradition, although it seems that James Connolly was the first to use it in 1913 as tool of political protest in 20th century Ireland.
From 20 September 1917, Irish internees used the hunger strike as a means of trying to secure their rights from an implacable enemy. Thomas Ashe, former principal of Corduff National School,was the first to die after an attempted force-feeding.
Fasting as a means of asserting one's rights when faced with no other means of obtaining redress is something that has been embedded in Irish culture from ancient times. Even when the ancient Irish law system, the Laws of the Fénechus, which we popularly called the Brehon Laws from the word breitheamh, a judge, were first codified in AD 438, the law relating to the troscad, or hunger strike, was ancient.

The hunger striker gave notice of their intent and, according to the law tract Di Chetharslicht Athgabhála, if the person who is being fasted against does not come to arbitration, and actually allows the protester to die, then the moral judgement went against them and they endured shame and contempt until they made recompense to the family of the dead person. If they failed to make such amends, they were not only damned by society but damned in the next world. They were held to be without honour and without morality.
The ancient Irish texts are full of examples of people fasting to assert their rights and shame powerful enemies into accepting their moral obligations. St Patrick is recorded to have done so according to the Tripartite Life of St Patrick. And, in the Life of St Ailbe, we found St Lugid and St Salchin, carrying out ritual fasts to protest.
Even King Conall Dearg of Connacht fasted when he found his rights infringed. And the entire population of Leinster fasted against St Colmcille when he rode roughshod over their rights. The poet Mairgen mac Amalgado mac Mael Ruain of the Deisi fasted against another poet Finguine over an act of perceived injustice.
The troscad continued in Irish law throughout the centuries until the English conquests proscribed the native law system and foisted English law on Ireland through a series of Acts between 1587 and 1613.
Nevertheless, individual fasts against the cruelties of the English colonial administration are recorded several times over the subsequent years....

On Saturday 10th July 2010 , in Dublin , a Rally will be held to commemorate the 22 Irish Hunger-Strikers : those attending are asked to assemble at the Garden of Remembrance at One pm , from where the Parade will leave , to make its way to the isle facing the GPO in O'Connell street.
All Welcome!
Sharon.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

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

" The latest negative attitude of the Dublin administration to any real consultation or the granting of increased local powers even within the limits of the 1992 'National Plan' must, however, raise doubts in all our minds about just how converted to these policies Fianna Fáil or the PD's are .

As for Fine Gael and Labour , all we can say is that it is not so long ago that they too were in office in Leinster House and Merrion Street and their record is not good.

We accept of course that the latest groups to break away from the Sinn Féin Poblachtach position , in 1969 and 1986 , may also come up with their own versions of a New Ireland which , incredibly, they seem to think can be achieved by the Leinster House 'short-cut' . One group , at least , had the decency to discard the noble 'Sinn Féin' title and rapidly evolve into a so-called 'Workers' Party' mould which is today not only highly centralised in all its operations and policies but has effectively become a neo-Unionist grouping in its public position on the national question. They have even discarded their version of socialism and opposition to the EC in 1989......."
(MORE LATER).

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

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

" Sinn Féin Poblachtach must also contest in new areas , preaching the old doctrine, the policy of the straight and narrow, where basic national issues are concerned, but always alert and responsive to the various needs of a troubled people in a troubled and confused land.

Many of our policies on planning, environment, local government reform, decentralisation, citizens' rights, freedom and equality for all, regardless of income or material status, have been partially taken on board by other groups and individuals since they were first published in the 1970's.

Even if we resent this we must push on to promote these just, fair and democratic doctrines and ensure that where others say they are now converted to the nuts and bolts of Republican policies, they will genuinely have to pursue these progressive policies, or shut up about them . We welcome in particular the emergence of a more conscious 'Green' concern among the electorate, 16 years after we outlined (in 1973)our 'Quality of Life' approach for a new Ireland. We welcome also the increasing talk about decentralisation in Ireland - provided it is real decentralisation, not just moving offices and civil servants from town to town......."
(MORE LATER).

'IRISH REPUBLICANS' CAMPAIGN TO HAVE DERRY LISTED AS THE 'UK CITY OF CULTURE'.

What do the cities of Norwich, Birmingham , Sheffield and Derry have in common ? Well , according to some, they are all cities in "the UK" !

A Provisional Sinn Féin councillor and 'tourism spokesperson' , Maeve McLaughlin , has voiced her support , and that of her party, to have Derry listed as the 'UK CITY OF CULTURE' : " Sinn Fein has contributed positively to progressing and supporting the bid....."
Martin McGuinness has openly voiced support to have Derry recognised as 'a UK city' and has declared himself "rock solid" behind the nomination !

Irish Republicans have long warned that those that leave the Republican Movement to ' pursue the same objectives by constitutional methods' , as those that leave would claim, eventually become part of the system they once fought against. Not only do the Provisionals administer Westminster's writ in six Irish counties - in return for 'respectability' , a political career , a salary , expenses and a Sterling pension - but they now see no shame in promoting an Irish city as a 'UK City' . And, really , when you look at it from their point of view , they have no reason not to do so : their political futures are linked to Westminster , which pays their mortgages , their holiday homes and their succulent lifestyles - so if they can repay the 'favour' and , at the same time, show what a 'safe pair of hands' they are regarding the jursidictional 'question' - then then have nothing to lose. Certainly not in the 'credibility' stakes anyway, as far as Irish Republicans are concerned.
Shame on them.
Sharon.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

(UPDATE : more pics from the Cumann na mBan fundraiser in Ballyfermot can be viewed here. Thanks, lads !)

CUMANN na mBAN FUND RAISER , FRIDAY 18th JUNE 2010, DUBLIN : report and pics.

A very successful fund-raising function for Cumann na mBan was held last night (Friday 18th June 2010) in the 79'r Pub in Ballyfermot , Dublin : the function room was almost full to capacity (over 250 tickets had been sold in advance) and the group , 'The Druids' , didn't disappoint : within an hour of going on stage, people (still sober!) were up dancing !
The fact that the Cumann na mBan organisation never once deviated from its Republican principles was mentioned from the stage , to sustained applause : that it played a full part in the 1916 Rising , rejected the Treaty of Surrender in 1921 ,and rejected further so-called 'compromises' and 'half-way houses' in the 1940's and 1950's , in the late 1960's , early 70's and in the mid 1980's , and that it remains to this day an uncompromising revolutionary Irish Republican organisation.

There were nine prizes up for grabs in the raffle , on a 'first up best dressed' basis (ie first winner picks his/her own prize from the prizes on offer!) : a beautiful 'one-off-job' presentation 'Padraig Pearse' candle (donated on the night by Cathy) , a 'Leaders Of 1916' bodhron , a framed 'Too Long A Sacrifice' Hunger-Striker plaque, a framed 'Inside The GPO' print , a book on Cumann na mBan, authored by Cal McCarthy, a book by Donal Nevin on James Connolly entitled 'Between Comrades' , two Irish Republican CD's by , and from , 'The Druids' and a presentation box containing a bottle of Hennessy Cognac. As usual, I stumbled away empty-handed.....!

We publish a few photographs from the event here, with a proper report and more pics to be published in the July issue of 'Saoirse' , which goes to print on Wednesday the 7th of that month -

'The Druids' on stage.

A section of the crowd.

Cumann na mBan 'shop' at the gig.

Raffle prizes....

...and a very special raffle prize (thanks again, Cathy!).

Some of those in attendance.

'The Druids' in action....

...after the stage was set!

Cumann na mBan - 'Women In Struggle'.

Finally : thanks to Cumann na mBan for organising this function, to the management and staff of the 79'r pub for looking after us so well, to Cathy and everyone else that helped with raffle prizes, to Mags , Josephine , Róisin, Frank , Robbie, Pat and his crew of 'bouncers'and to the people that made it their business to get there and , of course , to 'The Druids'. A good night (and early morning!) was had by all , with plans already in motion for another gig , in the 79'r , for late July 2010. Watch this space.....
Thanks!
Sharon.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

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

" The way forward is not to be found by entering the Leinster House club which, though open only to 26-County representatives, has the cheek to call itself 'Dáil Éireann'. As Comdt.-General Thomáis Mhic Uidhir, now aged 97, and the sole surviving and faithful member of the last All-Ireland Dáil said, at the time he consented to become Honorary Patron of Sinn Féin Poblachtach in 1986 : " There is no difference between entering the partition parliament of Leinster House and entering a partition parliament of Stormont."

That does not mean that this organisation, which was contesting elections for a decade before 1916, must not continue to be involved in political action wherever this can be done without subscribing to so-called 'Oaths of Allegiance' or orther political tests - like the latest one introduced in the Six Counties after the 1985 local elections clearly indicated the strength of anti-Unionism in the occupied part of our country.

Our next immediate task is the 1990 local elections in the 26 Counties . We must ensure the re-election of all those faithful sitting public representatives who have stood by their principles during all the turmoil and confusion and in spite of all the censorship and mis-representation......"
(MORE LATER).

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

Catherine Corcoran said to the detectives involved in the case - " Look, has Seán O Callaghan ever been brought in for questioning , and the detective said 'No' . I asked why and said that O Callaghan had confessed , but the detective just said ' I'm sorry , I'm new on the job , I'm only gathering all this information myself, I don't know...' . "

As they were leaving , the garda superintendent advised the Corcoran family not to talk to reporters : "We were asked specifically not to speak to reporters. They felt it could upset the case, " Catherine said. Her mother , Eileen , said - " I didn't want to speak to reporters anyway . We're very private people , we're a family. We wanted to get on with our lives."

Eileen says that a report in 'The Sunday Business Post' newspaper that she was considering a civil action against the state for failing to protect her husband is inaccurate : " I never actually said that . I'm not in it for the money. I just want answers to questions......."
(MORE LATER).

BODENSTOWN 2010 AND JUNE 13th CABHAIR FUNCTION REPORTS :
The Wolfe Tone Commemoration this year was very well attended , with all branches of the Republican Movement represented. The main oration was delivered by ex-POW Stiofán O Dálaigh (Stephen Daly) , from Tyrone , and we publish the text of his well-received oration here :

"A chairde agus A Chomrádaithe,

It is a great honour for me to address you all here today. As you and I gather here today we remember with pride not only the name of Theobald Wolfe Tone but the legacy he left behind. In the eyes of genuine Republicans he is viewed as the father of Irish Republicanism, a description truly deserving of a great man.

Wolfe Tone was only 35 years of age when he died for the cause in which he believed. That cause was to unite the people of Ireland, and I quote:

'To subvert the tyranny of our execrable government, to break the connection with England, the never-failing source of all our political evils, and to assert the independence of my country – these were my objects. To unite the whole people of Ireland, to abolish the memory of all past dissentions, and to substitute the common name of Irishman, in the place of the denominations of Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter – these were my means.

To unite Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter under the common name of Irishman in order to break the connection with England, the never-failing source of all our political evils, that was my aim.

If the men of property will not support us, they must fall. Our strength shall come from that great and respectable class, the men of no property.'

Tone was a revolutionary, he accepted in the short-term that debate on reform would have to take place but when talking would fail, revolt would happen. In 1798, like today, the United Irishmen would be scourged with informers like all revolutionary struggles throughout the world. There were and are those who are driven by the love of monetary wealth. In the case of Wolfe Tone his plans were betrayed to the British by a corrupt attorney.

The history of Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen is known to all you who attend here today. It is imperative that we, the Republicans of today, lead from the front as our forefathers did. It is true of today’s struggle that we face many enemies; we have those whose sole desire is the total destruction of Irish Republicanism.

These people have been corrupted by their greed and as a result they have allowed themselves to become entrenched in criminality. The British government has a vested interest in Republicanism, they have for decades infiltrated all of the revolutionary bodies. However it must be stressed that the British would fail in their attempts if not for the help they undoubtedly receive from the hateful type of person that becomes an informer.

Today’s struggle is no different from the struggle faced by Plunkett, Pearse and Tone. We the Republican people of today find ourselves in the minority. Our dedication to see our country free from the chains of British imperialism has been used by our enemies not only on the outside but from within. We have seen those who pretend to be Republican tarnish the good name of the Republican Movement by involving themselves with criminals, drug dealers and known informers. These people have asked for support in their actions claiming they are involved in taking ‘military action’. What are these military actions they speak of, extortion, protection of drug dealers, racketeering and the shooting of teenagers; these are not the actions of a revolutionary Republican Movement. These are the actions of a criminal gang. Criminality cannot and will not be tolerated. The Republican Movement will no longer allow such gang lords to operate under the banner of Republicanism. Your dirty deeds have been uncovered.

As a result of these actions by criminals and informers, we the true Republicans must rebuild and regain the trust of not only our communities but of the whole of Ireland and the rest of the world. The road ahead will be difficult, we have a lot to overcome but these difficult situations are not insurmountable. The path we walk is well-worn, but it has not led us wrong yet. Of course there were those who deviated and they have the audacity to look over their shoulders and call us elitist. Well we say to you, the path we remain on is the same one our forefathers stood on, and if it was good enough for them than its good enough for us.

At this moment in time we have Republican Prisoners of War fighting for the reintroduction of political status. These men, some of whom are only teenagers, are involved in the third phase of Republican struggle. For centuries the British imperialist forces have been guilty of horrendous and heinous acts of barbarism against Republican prisoners. Today is no different.

Republican prisoners are locked in their cells for up to 23 hours a day. If a Republican prisoner has a legal visit he is then denied any form of exercise as a result he gets no fresh air. Republican prisoners are being subjected to strip-searches on a daily basis and now family members of Republican prisoners are being strip-searched on visits to see their sons, fathers and husbands.

Meals are handed in through locked doors, these meals are either served cold or lukewarm; bread has been handed to Republican prisoners already mouldy. Showers are being denied and some of the Republican prisoners have not have not had a shower in up to three weeks. Republican prisoners have been subjected to attacks by prison staff, one man received a boot in the face, a number of men have been beaten up by the notorious search team and forcibly removed from their comrades and placed in isolation.

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), the British government and the prison service have denied all of the above, but as a former Republican prisoner I know that all of the reports are accurate. The Prison Officers association (POA) and not the governor run Maghaberry jail (Co Antrim). They have planted names in the cell of a Republican prisoner which resulted in the governor resigning. They are refusing to accept that change is necessary and that contrary to their assumptions the Republican prisoners are only looking to be treated with dignity and respect.

We the Republican people of Ireland hereby state that we will not stand idly by and let this abuse continue. The Republican Prisoners of War have our fullest support and dedication, we salute you.

I would like to finish by saying that the struggle in which Tone gave his life for is still ongoing. We the Republican people must move forward and once again strike a blow for Ireland. Let us not forget the sacrifices of the past and that the men and women who died for Ireland did so, not for any fringe benefits, but for the Republican cause and a united and free Ireland. "There are those who are and those who pretend to be."

To you, the true Republican people who gathered here today, I would like to thank you for your attendance, you are following in the footsteps of great men and women and their sacrifices and yours will not be forgotten.

Stay true to the cause of Ireland.
Tiocfaidh Ár Lá."

The criminal element referred to by Stephen in his oration are known to the owners of this blog , and we can confirm what he stated in that speech : up until recently , those people professed loyality to Irish Republicanism but, led, in the main, by one man and two of his supporters - all of whom have been nursing severe sour grapes over their failure to win positions in the leadership of the Movement - cried 'foul' (some six months after they allege the 'foul' was committed!) and left the organisation a few weeks ago. They have since approached those in charge of a different republican organisation with a 'plan of action' : that they would join their organisation, in leadership positions, naturally, and, in return (!) that organisation would change its name to one suggested by the 'new leadership'. They were told , in no uncertain terms, where to go.....

They are now pointlessly thrashing around in a very dangerous place - between their 'new friends' (with 'sympathetic ears' and an 'understanding shoulder') in the State Special Branch and known drug dealers , and have purposely cut-off all contact with Irish Republicanism. They are now acting , to the best of their abilities, as 'agents provocateurs' and are now just another anti-republican element. Their actions, and their intentions, are to be condemned.

However , tangents aside : the Wolfe Tone Commemoration went ahead as announced and intended, and was only partially impaired by three 'obstacles' ; the monsoon-like thunderous rain , the unwanted presence of the Political Police and the arrest, by the latter, of an RSF supporter from Donegal , after he was jumped-on by five State agents for 'refusing to be cooperative' ie he gave them his name and address , as required, but it was not 'detailed enough' . His arrest was meant to be a 'signal' to republicans to become subservient like the previously-mentioned criminal element had. The answer was 'NO!' , the Commemoration went ahead and it's 'business as usual' since then!

Also , on that same Sunday (June 13th 2010) , a function for CABHAIR was held in a Dublin hotel , for which over 600 tickets had been sold : this was a resounding success , and the organisers ran out of tickets to sell due to their being a christening party in a different function room of the same venue ! A tidy sum was raised for the dependants of Irish Republican prisoners , and the organisers were asked by the hotel management to run another such event next month- which has already been organised!

Overall - apart from the impairments mentioned above - both events were to the benefit of Irish Republicanism and the organisers (RSF and CABHAIR) are to be congratulated for their successful efforts.
Thanks for reading!
Sharon.

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

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

" The scandalously immoral collaboration of the South with the British and Loyalist war-machine not only against Republicans but even against "anti-extradition and Birmingham Six elements" is an issue which those concerned with the plight of political prisoners and activists in Southern Africa and Central America might address when they have time.

However, even the most elaborate big lies, combined with state censorship and ideological revisionism cannot hide the fundamental principles and facts on which this movement is based.

The real question, even after we have disposed with the overlordship of the EC, the British power over all Ireland through the "security" farce of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, and the mind-boggling scenario of Fine Gael and the Unionists forming common cause in the Strasbourg Assembly , is the right of the Irish nation to self-determination, the right of all the Irish people to express their views on that issue, in free, fair and uncensored elections , and the restoration of real democracy in a country which has been denied that right ever since the Partition Act of 1920......."
(MORE LATER).

TWO UP-COMING REPUBLICAN EVENTS.....
......both , unfortunately, taking place at the same time , on the same day !

The annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration will be held on Sunday coming (13th June 2010 , 2.30pm) and , whilst most members and supporters of the Republican Movement will be there , some of us have been asked to give a hand with this event, which is being held in a hotel about five miles from the Wolfe Tone Commemoration. Over 600 tickets have been sold for the fund-raiser , with all profits going to the CABHAIR organisation, which raises funds for the dependants of Irish Republican prisoners. As much as I would like to be in Bodenstown with my comrades , colleagues and friends , I don't begrudge missing same for CABHAIR and for the benefit of the POW's. Either way - from either of the 'gigs' - Irish Republicanism will benefit!
Thanks for reading!
Sharon.