20TH MARCH 1943 : 21 IRA PRISONERS ESCAPE FROM DERRY JAIL.

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....' By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.

On December 17th , 1927, 'An Phoblacht' carried a report on Croveigh : " Events that will test the nation's conscience - evictions are threatened in the Tirconail Gaeltacht. Croveigh, a pocket of reclaimed land within a ring of raw mountain, is to be attacked. In the Tan days this glen was the resting place for groups of wanted men. The same white-washed cottages. In one home there are father, mother and two daughters, the boys are in Scotland. The spinning wheel in the corner, that was her grandmother's. The names cut on the flags in front of the door- the old woman tells of the days when they were cut. This is the sort of home the Land Commission proposes to uproot. Have we come to this then ?"

We had so. Things had come to a pretty desperate pass. There was no longer a safe byre or a safe field in Croveigh - there were decrees out against every holding. I was scared that something more elaborate than the bailiff's ordinary , hit-or-miss raid on a particular farm would be attempted , that this one would be in force through being guided by a decision on a higher level that the sheriff's office. And we were pathetically weak. I spent a good deal of time with Black James and we checked over what the total loss of cattle would amount to, should the worst befall us.

We were afraid to ask anybody sell such of his stock as were in a forward state for the market lest people would think we were looking back over our shoulders now that the crisis of the struggle had been reached. I was scared.(MORE LATER).

THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW......

Roisin McConnell claims she was abused, called "a murdering bitch" , "Satan" and "the Devil". She claims gardai told her that her child would be taken away, that her husband was having an affair, that she would "do seven years in jail" and that she was "going to get stabbed". A named garda told her that when this happened, he would spit on her grave, she says.

By Sandra Mara. From 'Magill' Annual 2002.

The McConnells are currently taking an action against the State but no amount of compensation can repair the damage to this family, and as recently as last weekend Roisin McConnell was again hospitalised, as a result of her experiences.

With over 20 similar actions being taken by the McBreartys , Michael Peoples , the Gallagher family , Hugh Diver and others, the implications for the State , financial and otherwise, in what has been described in the Dail (sic) as "the most sinister, ruthless and malicious case of garda corruption in the history of the State" , are enormous.

The financial costs alone are estimated as being likely to run into millions. In a country (sic) now riddled with scandals , this has arguably become the greatest scandal of them all.

[End of 'THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW']

(Next - 'The Betrayal of 1916 - Revisionism Exposed' , from 1991.)


20TH MARCH 1943 : 21 IRA PRISONERS ESCAPE FROM DERRY JAIL.

11 of the 21 IRA escapees were 'arrested' in Donegal by Free State forces within hours of the escape.

Early on Saturday morning , 21st March 1943, as the Logue family of Harding Street, Derry, were about to sit down for their breakfast, they noticed a part of their small garden rising up and being pushed back - their garden wall formed part of the perimeter of a neighbouring premises , Derry Jail : a figure pulled himself up from the hole in the ground and began assisting others that were trying to scramble to their feet. Within minutes there were 21 men assembled in the small garden, all of whom rushed into the Logue house and let themselves out through the front door. They ran to near-by Abercorn Place and jumped into a waiting lorry , a furniture removal van, which was driven by an on-the-run IRA man , Jimmy Steele, who had recently liberated himself from Crumlin Road Prison!

Among the escapees were well-known IRA activists Patrick Donnelly, Ned Maguire ,Hugh McAteer , Liam Graham and Brendan O'Boyle who, incidentally, was the last man to be helped from the tunnel. Jimmy Drumm was earmarked as the last man and was in the tunnel, yards behind Brendan O'Boyle, when he heard a warning being shouted that the British Army had discoved the exit and were picking-up the men as they emerged - so he turned back, only to discover later that it was a false alarm.

The tunnel had been started in November 1942 , in Liam Graham's cell and, out of the 200 or so IRA prisoners in the jail, 22 had been picked by the prisoners themselves as it was felt that that group could more readily 'rally the troops' on the outside as each of them had a high profile in the Movement and were respected by all concerned (except, obviously, by the Brits and the Staters!) . An estimated five tons of clay was removed over a five month period and most of it was scattered in the prison grounds, although repeated attempts were made to dispose of some of it via the toilets , which blocked the pipes. A plumbing company was called in on a regular basis over that five month period but, whether they knew what was happening or not, they said nothing and the warders and their bosses knew nothing of the excavation that was then on-going - indeed, during the last few weeks of the dig, the IRA prisoners had held a 'mini-fleadh cheoil' to cover the noise and the constant comings-and-goings from cell to cell and from cell to prison yard.

Jimmy Steele and Harry White had each organised to have about 12 men on stand-by on each side of Britain's border in Ireland to assist with the dispersal of the escapees , the majority of whom were taken to Donegal but, within a day , some of their number had been captured by Free State forces and interned in the Curragh. Others were also captured in that county, in a place called Glentown , and they were then held in a FS barracks in Letterkenny.

That successful escape effort not only helped to refocus world attention on to the then(-as-now) on-going struggle for national liberation in Ireland , but proved to be a massive morale boost for the Republican Movement - it helped to insure that the flame stayed lit, and brought in new recruits who, in turn, passed the mantle to those who hold the same values today.


TOMÁS MacCURTAIN , LORD MAYOR OF CORK : MURDERED BY BRITAIN ON 20TH MARCH 1920.

Tomás MacCurtain , shot dead in his house in Cork by British police on 20th March , 1920.

"Tomás MacCurtain was shot dead at his home at Thomas Davis Street, Blackpool between 12.10 a.m. and 1.15 a.m. on Saturday, March 20, 1920. It was the morning of his thirty-sixth birthday. The fatal revolver shots were fired by two men with blackened faces who had rushed upstairs and called him out of bed after his wife had opened the door to their knocks and threats. Companions of the murderers held her at the door while the crime was being committed. The inquest verdict found that all those engaged were members of the Royal Irish Constabulary...." (...from here , and a short video of the funeral can be seen here.)


DON'T MENTION THE WAR.....



In what has (rightly) been described as an act of "cultural censorship" , the organising committee responsible for last weekend's St Patricks Day Parade banned trade unionists from entering a float commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1913 lockout. The 'reason' given by the politically-connected 'suits' that run the parade was that the 1913 float proposal "....didn't reflect the theme of the Gathering..." , an event which seeks to encourage those who were forced from these shores for economic reasons to come back for a visit and be taxed heavily by the political class whilst here.

The banned St Patricks Day Parade representation of the 1913 lockout, on the other hand, would serve as a reminder to those watching that it was greed on an economic and political scale, which affected the working class in this State, that made a 'Gathering' possible ie had those that fled for economic reasons in recent years not been forced to flee there would be no body of financial emigrants abroad to 'entice' back. However , the irony of this 'ban-the-float' episode is not lost on Irish republicans : amongst those that supported the idea is the trade union SIPTU , which normally works hand-in-glove with Leinster House-appointed organising committees such as the one that binned the proposal.

It would be nice to think that the 'float refusal' outcome would help serve as a wake-up call for the likes of SIPTU in relation to realising just who it is they should consider as being on 'their side' but that won't happen - this is just a temporary bump in the road for both bodies, and will no doubt be quickly resolved around apéritifs at the next taxpayer-funded meeting that both sets of reps meet up at.


SEVEN MINUTES FIFTY SECONDS FOR A POSITIVE REAL ALTERNATIVE.


If you can spare just under eight minutes of your time , and then maybe another few minutes to pass the link on, it would be appreciated. This is a visually refreshing representation of the Irish republican position and it deserves as big an audience as possible. Turn your speakers on and click here.


AN IRISH SOLUTION TO AN IRISH PROBLEM !

Those that call for a boycott of this unjust tax have my full support , providing they don't 'change horses' midstream.....

A person who tells those who log on to his website that he is a pensioner from Cork is concerned about the new State-introduced (and enforced) 'Property Tax' and has organised an on-line petition against same , and asks that his readers join him in "....petitioning Fine Gael TDs and Senators (to) repeal the Household Tax Law...". The 1994 quote from Enda Kenny re property tax ("It is morally wrong, unjust and unfair to tax a person's family home") is quoted by the site owner, readers are given a link to the petition and asked to email it to their friends, family and work colleagues and to pass it on via Facebook and Twitter and a sample letter of protest is provided on the site for people to copy and send to named Leinster House members. All good stuff , and proper order - any and every avenue should be used to combat that tax and it was our intention here on this blog to do what we could in promoting that site , and others like it. But we do so now for a different reason....

...a recent post on that site advises readers in the following manner :

'TIP: If, through fear, you feel you have to pay this tax, then:-"ONLY PAY BY CHEQUE in 12 monthly installments." (Good reason!)'

So there you have it - an 'Irish solution to an Irish problem' : a concerned citizen sets up a website in opposition to an unjust tax but , when push comes to shove - when it comes to the crunch - he bottles it, and suggests that the tax be paid in what he perceives to be a manner which will make it 'awkward' for those that it is paid to! Yes, indeed - that'll 'teach them' not to mess with you, you old rebel you.....

But seriously - that behaviour is , unfortunately, representative of the prevailing attitude here at the moment amongst most people - they know they are being treated unjustly and unfairly, they complain about the situation and swear blind that they will fight back , they may even write a 'Letter to the Editor' and/or set up a website/blog with which to garner support and spread the word. But when the time comes to put up or shut up they find what they consider a 'good compromise' ('.....ok so I have to pay it but I'll do so in installments/in pennies/cents/50 cent pieces...') and thereafter try and convince themselves that they have shown 'the man' that they are not to be messed with!

In the long run, people like that do more harm than good - their actions demoralise would-be supporters to the point that those of us who do genuinely mean what we say are tarred with the same brush as those 'half-way-housers' and the fight against the issue at hand (property tax, in this instance) is lost. And , by the way - I haven't paid the bill I received for bin tax , nor did I pay the 'household charge' , I won't be paying any water tax and have absolutely no intention to pay this latest (property) tax. Roughly one-third of my wages are stopped , at source, in various taxes , when I spend money I'm taxed on it and if I manage to save some money (in the Credit Union, for instance) , I'm taxed on that , too. I won't be paying those "BY CHEQUE" or in "12 monthly installments" . I won't be paying them at all , full stop, and if/when they take me to court and/or attempt to stop same out of what remains of my wages, then I'll fight them on that as well , as best I can. And that's the way it has to be , but I'll not ask someone to do that which I am not prepared to do myself.

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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IN THE NAME OF TALLAFORNIA.....

1920's IRELAND AS IT NEVER WAS.



A tilted presentation.

I was right to be wary : TV3's 'In the name of the Republic' would have given an 'outsider' the impression that armed British soldiers and pro-British militia were in Ireland in the 1920's to protect women and children from marauding gangs of wild IRA gunmen who were using the struggle for independence as a cover to settle old scores and/or to cover up their own military mistakes by executing those whom they deemed to be 'deserving' of it. There was no in-depth study of British Army or RIC activities , with the latter presented and portrayed as Irish men defending themselves from a war of attrition forced on them by other Irish men.

The programme was unbalanced and propagandist; the best thing about it was its theme tune. The second part of it will 'examine'(/spin) IRA actions in the Cork area in the early 1920's and, whilst I'll watch it, I won't be expecting anything different to that which was shown in the first episode. Except, of course, a change of scenery. The sooner the better TV3 gets back to its roots - more 'Tallafornia' , please.....

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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IN THE NAME -OR 'DEFENCE' - OF THE REPUBLIC.

'IN THE NAME OF THE REPUBLIC.....'

....as opposed to 'IN DEFENCE OF THE REPUBLIC'.

In a (guarded) welcome break from the trashy 'Tallafornia'-type nonsense that it has become known for (it's nickname 'BabySky' is well earned) , TV3 is airing the first in a two-part programme dealing with one aspect of the Irish Civil War period - the executions of those that actively worked against the Irish Republic. This installment will be broadcast at 9pm on Monday 18th March 2013, under the title 'In the name of the Republic', and that, perhaps, is the first warning bell : it is, in my opinion, a 'loaded' title , in much the same manner as to have called it 'In defence of the Republic' would have annoyed the Free Staters amongst us.

Part of the 'promo' for the series refers to "...the dark side of Irish Republicanism..." with nary a mention of "the dark side" of other organisations that were involved or why it was that those trying to defend the Republic had to resort to the same "dark side" that was employed by the forces attempting to destroy them and the Republic. 'In the name of the Republic' rather than 'In the name of the Treaty' - ie why does it appear that this programme is determined to focus on the violence of those who acted in defence of the Republic and of themselves rather than the violence of the pro-British/anti-republican forces who set out to destroy them and that Republic ?

I would expect the usual anti-republican 'spin' from this two-parter and have no reason to suspect otherwise , but I'll watch it anyway , if only to listen to its theme music - that seems like it will be its only saving grace.

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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13TH MARCH 1923 - 13TH MARCH 2013 : IRA PRISONERS EXECUTED BY FREE STATERS.

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....' By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.

In January 1927 , Paddy Hogan was asked in the Dáil to state the number of writs issued by the courts in favour of the Land Commission for arrears during the past twelve months - he refused to give it. I wrote County Councillors who were known to me personally asking them to shift the emphasis of attack from the defaulting annuitants on to the government , for deducting the arrears from grants to local Councils.

Dublin County Council was the first to protest against being forced to burden the rates in this way , and Leitrim and Cavan followed. In December 1927 , it looked as if the storm would soon break over the townlands around Dungloe : a whole spate of decrees came from the local court and these were followed by notices over the name of the solicitor to the Land Commission , warning tenants that unless the amounts stated in the notices were paid at once, the holdings would be put up for sale. Croveigh , Donegal, was singled out especially for such notices - every house in the townland got one. This was the sort of threat that made bonfires.

On December 17th , 1927, 'An Phoblacht' carried a report on Croveigh.....(MORE LATER).


THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW......

Roisin McConnell claims she was abused, called "a murdering bitch" , "Satan" and "the Devil". She claims gardai told her that her child would be taken away, that her husband was having an affair, that she would "do seven years in jail" and that she was "going to get stabbed". A named garda told her that when this happened, he would spit on her grave, she says.

By Sandra Mara. From 'Magill' Annual 2002.

On a number of other occasions , Mark McConnell was attacked : one such incident occurred when, while he was playing in a band at a local nightclub, he was assaulted by a female member of the Barron family and her boyfriend. They were later charged, pleaded guilty and were bound to the peace.

In an astonishing development, 'Magill' magazine has learned that, following the hit-and-run on Richie Barron, a local couple who witnessed a car driven at high speed on the night of Barron's death came forward at the time and gave statements to the gardai. The couple clearly identified and named the driver of the car, which was reported stolen and was found burned out. Despite this eye-witness evidence, which counsel for the McBreartys told the court had "been suppressed" , the McConnells and their extended family have been subjected to years of harrassment and abuse.

It is understood that the statements given by this couple were never disclosed to the McBrearty's legal team and have only recently come to light.(MORE LATER).


REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT EASTER COMMEMORATIONS 2013.



Antrim: Easter Sunday, Belfast, Republican Plot, Milltown Cemetery, assemble 12 noon at gates of cemetery.

Armagh: Holy Saturday, Lurgan commemoration, assemble at the top of Kilwilkie at 3pm for march to the Republican Plot, St. Colman's Cemetery. Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremonies at Ballymacnab and Keady. Easter Sunday, Armagh City assemble 2.45pm at the gates of Sandyhill Cemetery. Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony, Republican Plot in Camlough.

Carlow: Easter Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony at the Republican Plot, Carlow cemetery at 3.30pm.

Clare: Easter Sunday, wreath-laying ceremonies at Kilmurry McMahon and Doonbeg.

Cork: Easter Sunday, assemble at Wilton Roundabout, 2pm. Parade to Republican Plot, St. Finbarr's Cemetery.

Derry: Cuchulainn Memorial, City Cemetery, Derry City, Easter Sunday, assemble at 12 noon. Wreath-laying ceremonies at the following on Easter Sunday morning: The Loup Cemetery, 9am, at the grave of Brigadier Seán Larkin , and the grave of Tommy Toner in Dungiven. 10.15am at the graves of Vols Kealy, O'Carolan and Kilmartin and hunger striker Kevin Lynch.

Donegal: Holy Saturday, Doneyloup, Castlefin 7.30pm. Clady Bridge, 11.30am. Drumboe Easter Sunday, assemble Johnson's Corner 2.30pm.

Down: Easter Sunday, Newry, assemble 10am, gates of St. Mary's Cemetery for march to Republican Plot.

Dublin: Easter Sunday, commemoration at Deansgrange Cemetery, 1pm. Easter Monday, Assemble Garden of Remembrance, 1.45pm for march to GPO, O'Connell Street, Dublin.

Fermanagh: Easter Sunday, Arney, at the grave of Phiolip Cassidy, 2.30pm.

Galway: Good Friday, wreath-laying ceremony at the Workhouse, Tuam, 5pm. Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony, Kilcummin Cemetery, Oughterard, 7pm. Assemble at Cathedral for parade to Liam Mellows Memorial, Eyre Square, Galway City, Easter Sunday, 11am. Republican Plot, Donaghpatrick, Headford, Easter Sunday, assemble Queally's Cross, Caherlistrane, 3pm.

Glasgow: Easter Sunday commemoration and function. Details from SAOIRSE sellers.

Kerry: Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony, Republican Plot, Caherlistrane Cemetery, 2pm. Easter Sunday, Cahersiveen, assemble 2.30pm at the Monument, The Square. Tralee, Easter Sunday, assemble at Denny Street at 2pm for parade to Republican Plot, Rath Cemetery. Killarney, wreath-laying ceremony at Republican Monument. Easter Monday, Republican Plot, Listowel, wreath-laying ceremony, assemble at graveyard gates, 12 noon.

Kildare: Easter Sunday, commemoration at the Republican Plot, Grey Abbey Cemetery, Kildare town, 1pm. Easter Monday, wreaths will be laid throughout the county.

Kilkenny: Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony, Rathciaran, Mooncoin, 12.45pm.

Laois: Wreaths will be laid on the graves of William O'Connor and James Lacey, Barrowhouse Cemetery; grave of Denis O'Dwyer, Wolfhill cemetery and the Republican Plot, Portlaoise.

Leitrim: Easter Sunday, commemoration at the grave of Vol. Patrick Gill, Jamestown, 3pm.

Limerick: Easter Monday, Republican Plot, Mount St Lawrence Cemetery, 3pm.

London: Easter Monday, see SAOIRSE sellers for details or phone 0044-7926357676.

Longford: Easter Sunday, commemoration, Clonboney, Ballinalee, at the graves of Seán Connolly and Tommy Kelliher, 3pm.

Louth: Dundalk, Easter Sunday, assemble at gates of St. Patrick's Cemetery, 2.30pm for wreath-laying ceremony at the Republican Plot.

Mayo: Kilkelly, Easter Monday, 12 noon, assemble at Church gate and parade to East Mayo Brigade Memorial on main Sligo-Galway Road.

Meath: Easter Sunday, wreath-laying ceremonies at grave of Seámus Fox, Drumree, 12 noon; at grave of Niall Fagan, Summerhill, 1pm; at Ballinlough Cemetery, Kells, 2pm. Easter Monday, wreath-laying ceremony at grave of Vol. George McDermott, Ardbracken, 2pm.

Monaghan: Easter Sunday, Commemoration, Urbleshanny Cemetery, Scotstown at grave of Vol. Seámus McElwaine, 2pm.

New York: Easter Sunday, 9am at the grave of its co-founder Joe Stynes in Woodlawn Cemetery, East 233 St., Bronx, NY, organised by Cumann na Saoirse Naisiunta (The National Irish Freedom Committee). After the graveside ceremony breakfast will be served at Byrne & Hanrahans's located at 640 Mclean Ave. in Yonkers at 10.30am. After breakfast 'the Countdown to Easter 2016' programme will commence. This programme, initiated in 2010 by the late Brian Mór Ó Baoighill, will include tributes to the executed signatories of the Easter Proclamation and to the other executed leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. More information available at www.irishfreedom.net.

Offaly: Easter Sunday, wreath-laying ceremonies throughout the county.

Roscommon: Ballinlough, Easter Sunday, 12 noon, parade to IRA memorial. Elphin parade to County Roscommon Memorial after 11.30 mass. Easter Sunday, County Commemoration, Kilglss, Strokestown at the grave of Frank O'Donoghue, 3pm.

Sligo: Sligo Town, Easter Sunday, wreath-laying ceremony, Republican Plot, Sligo Cemetery.

Tipperary: Easter Sunday Commemoration, Hunger Strike Memorial, Banba Square, Nenagh, 10am.

Waterford: Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony at Statue on Quay, Waterford city, 12 noon.

Westmeath: Easter Sunday, 3pm, 2013 County Comemoration, Meedin Cemetery, at the graves of Patrick Seery and Paddy Geraghty. Wreath-laying ceremonies will take place throughout the County at Republican Graves and Monuments over the Easter period.

Wexford: Republican Plot, St Ibar's Cemetery, Crosstown, Easter Sunday, assemble at Cresent Quay, Wexford at 3pm. Mass for all who died for Ireland, Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rowe Street, 11.15am.

Wicklow: Holy Saturday, wreath-laying ceremony at 1798 monument between Tinehealy and Shilleagh. Wreath-laying ceremony at the Billy Byrne Monument at 12 noon. Wreath-laying ceremmony at the Séamus O'Brien Memorial, Post Office, Rathdrum, 1pm.


RSF Head Office in Dublin has prepared 1,600 republican leaflets for distribution at the GPO on Easter Monday , 1st April 2013 -

A selection of the leaflets which will be distributed in Dublin at the GPO on Easter Monday 2013.

- these leaflets will be distributed in 'packs' of four (ie 400 leaflet 'packs') and will be handed out between 1.30 pm and 3pm in O'Connell Street in Dublin. If you are in the area at that time, please take a 'pack' and, if you can, attend the Easter Commemoration at the GPO at 2pm or join the parade at 1.45pm from the Garden of Remembrance to the GPO.



13TH MARCH 1923 - 13TH MARCH 2013:

"AND NOW YOU THREE - WE'LL HONOUR THEE

AND YOUR MEMORIES SHALL NOT FADE.....



....SINCE T'WAS YOUR LOT - IN THE REBEL PLOT

YOUR BODIES TO BE LAID."

On March 13 , 1923 , three Wexford IRA men that were being held captive by Free State forces : James Parle (of Clovervalley, Taghmon), John Creane (of Clonerane, Taghmon) and Patrick Hogan (of William Street, Wexford, (having been 'arrested' on the 15th February 1923 for possession of firearms and imprisoned in Wexford Jail) were blindfolded by their captors and taken out to the courtyard of the jail. The three men were accompanied to the sandbags by Fr. Patrick Walsh , who wrote about the experience here -

"It was 10.30 p.m. when some day in March '23 when, about to retire for the night ('fortified' by some drug or another, and feeling anything but well,) soldiers brought me the message. I first had to go to Caro to ask the C.C. to take my place next day as celebrant of a Requiem Mass for somebody in Taghmon. After trouble with lights of my motor I started thither & thence to Wexford. A cheery welcome awaited me from the three - it was about 12 midnight. They had written their last letters and their demeanour was boyish and gladsome, with something of the exaltation of those who have received some great spiritual uplifting.....

......we had a fairly long walk. Eventually we came to the side of a huge grave beside which were the 3 coffins; the wall behind was well sand-bagged 12, (or 15?) young soldiers with rifles were on one knee opposite the sandbags: We turned when near the wall & beside the grave, we turned the three blindfolded around to face the soldiers, the Wexford boy in the middle. No sound could be heard for eternity of a couple of minutes while the officer made some arrangement. I stood out at an angle to the left of the boys and in line with the soldiers: Fr. Wm. and doctor O'Connor Westgate stood similarly on their right: the boys faces wore an expression of listening to some sound in the distance: the officer made two motions with a handkerchief to the soldiers, these made two corresponding movements, and as he quickly, by a third movement, lowered the handkerchief, I was utterly stunned by the report of the rifles, and although I saw Fr. Wm. actually anointing the Wexford boy (who had dropped like a stone, having apparently got most of the bullets, being in the centre) I stood rooted to the spot where I stood for several seconds. I then realised the situation, the other two poor fellows were dying slowly: I went forward and anointed Parle while F. Wm. anointed Creane. A diminutive young officer then came forward and slowly drawing a revolver from his pocket or somewhere, calmly fired twice into the ear of Parle, then turned and looked at Creane, stepped slowly across, did exactly the same for him, and all was over...."

But all was not "over" then , nor is it now : the Irish Republic that those men (and others) gave their lives for has yet to be re-won , having been subverted by Westminster and their paid supporters in this country. Thankfully, there are people today of the same high moral caliber as James Parle , John Creane and Patrick Hogan and they will see this age-old campaign to a just conclusion.

GET THE 'POINT' YET ?



What have Luke Flanagan and Chris Huhne got in common ?

ANSWER : a shared arrogance.

But in Mr Flanagan's case, it's an ignorant arrogance : he has for months now being complaining at corruption within the State Gardaí in relation to the manner in which driving licence penalty points are scrapped for some 'by discretion', but not for others, whilst knowing all along that he himself had taken advantage of that scenario, by claiming to be immune from any driving charges as he was driving to/from Leinster House at the time of the offence. Mr Flanagan is simply guilty of 'playing the system' and while, in my opinion, he is morally wrong to do so, that does not take from the fact that it is the (political) system itself that is at fault for allowing a section of society a dangerous and unfair advantage. And that is what this corrupt State is all about - one law for 'them' and a different one for us. He has become as corrupt as the system he supports and works within.


CONGRATS , FRANCIE , IN YOUR ENDEAVOURS TO "WORK AN EXECUTIVE."



Another massive step on the road to reunification, to be sure : one pro-British ex-republican has been replaced by another.

In his 'victory' speech , Mr Molloy stated - "Republicans are prepared to work an executive.We are really prepared to administer British rule in Ireland for the foreseeable future. The very principle of partition is accepted, and if unionists had had that in the 1920s they would have been laughing."

Well...that's not actually what he said on that occasion, but it is what he meant. The man is at least a half-honest politician , in that he will say what's on his mind but then deny having done so. The perfect man to fill Martin's seat !


THE DARREN AND ANTO SHOW.....



Roscommon lads were slagging anyone in Meath colours and Dublin lads were winding-up the Kildare fans and, in between, all concerned took time out to either cheer-on or slag the Liverpool, Spurs , Manchester United and/or Chelsea teams that were playing against each other or were due to do so later on that day - and the hotel was buzzing with Mammies out for the day. Plus the usual crowd were in and we had our usual complement of helpers for the raffle , for which we required at least one table as a base from which to work - and a big 'GRMA' to Stephen, the head barperson that day, for somehow getting two tables for us : much appreciated (and sure it was only Spurs fans you moved for us!).

We got going a wee bit later than usual , due to the hectic situation that was going on all around us , and even though we had sold our supply of forty tickets within fifteen minutes of entering the premises we had to wait for half time in whatever match it was (!) that was taking place at the time. But it was certainly worth the wait for two of our punters, Anto and Darren - between them, they walked away with five of the eight prizes and, even allowing for the fact that all prizes are picked out from the raffle drum by different people, that was some feat. Stephen pulled the first prize , €200, and the winner was 'Mousey H' , ticket number 511, who had bought the ticket from Anto so, as usual, we asked that winner to pull out the second ticket - and a lovely young lady from Kildare, Saoirse , won €100 on ticket 281 , having got the ticket from Darren.

Our third prize , €40, was won by Liverpool supporter Reese K, ticket 52, who had bought it from Kildare supporter Gavin and Reese then pulled out ticket 191 as our fourth prize (€20), which was won by Linda (a Meath fan!), and it was sold to her by Darren. Linda , God bless her, gave an 'outsider' a prize when she pulled ticket 522, which went to Christy B, a Dub supporter, who had bought it from our Damo, another Dub supporter! But Christy soon got the 'Darren and Anto Show' back on the road with our sixth prize : €20 went to 'The Roscommon Ant', who was the holder of ticket 38, having got it from...Anto! And I almost lost my bearings (and my glass of 'lemonade'!) after 'The Ant' pulled out our second-last prize (€20) - Darren himself was the winner , ticket 489, having bought the ticket from....Anto!

But fair play to Darren - we got him to pull the last prize , €20, and he was generous : Seán G , ticket number 384, was our last winner, courtesy of regular seller 'D2'. And neither Darren or Anto knew him !

Now I could write the same amount of words about the treat we girls had in the hotel spa and leisure facilities after we had tidied-up when the raffle finished, but I suppose I better not - this is, after all, a raffle report, not a 'TripAdvisor'-type post, so I'll just say this : 'Mother's Day' next year will not be our next encounter with those facilities. We enjoyed the meal and two hours of pure bliss so much that we booked appointments for the end of March. And I won't be reporting on it here or anywhere else ;-) !

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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6TH MARCH 1923 - 6TH MARCH 2013 : 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF A FS MASSACRE AS THE SOLDIERS MOVED AWAY......

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....' By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.

I can recall a few such incidents : I was about to step into a boat for Arranmore Island when two guards from Burtonport nabbed me. I was really annoyed for I was expected on the island and had only my own carelessness to blame for this arrest and I reacted in a thoroughly bad-tempered way. I would not walk - if they wanted me at the barracks they would have to carry me there. They pleaded, I stormed ; one of the guards grabbed at his belt - "I didn't join this outfit to arrest men like you" , he said. I caught his hand. "For heaven's sake have a bit of wit, man, keep on your belt. I'll walk." His name was McDonald and he was stationed at Burtonport. I wish him well.

Once hurrying home for last minute work on 'An Phoblacht', after too long a stay in the West, I found a group of political police waiting for me at the corner of Marlborough Road, and we clashed - the outcome of it was that I found myself before District Justice Little on a charge of resisting arrest and doing two pounds' worth of damage to Sergeant Michael Gill's trousers. Mr Little knew a great deal of the background to the case and he took a lenient view of things - he let me off under the 'First Offenders Act' and even Michael Gill laughed.

My campaign in 'An Phoblacht' found considerable response in the countryside , where the first organised response was Galway , and Clare followed. The first activity touching on land annuities with which I was not directly associated was the decision by a number of County Councils to publish the names of defaulting annuitants and denounce them for making themselves a burden on the rates. I, in turn , denounced the County Councils for their desire to shame people into paying a tax to Britain : "Every decent minded man and woman will applaud those who refuse to pay and denounce the councillors as slaves." TD's were being forced to take notice.... (MORE LATER).


THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW......

Roisin McConnell claims she was abused, called "a murdering bitch" , "Satan" and "the Devil". She claims gardai told her that her child would be taken away, that her husband was having an affair, that she would "do seven years in jail" and that she was "going to get stabbed". A named garda told her that when this happened, he would spit on her grave, she says.

By Sandra Mara. From 'Magill' Annual 2002.

Over the years since the death of Richie Barron, the McConnells have been subjected to continued harrassment. Mark McConnell was accused by small-time Sligo criminal Bernard Conlon of calling to his home in Sligo , threatening him with a silver bullet and saying he would "get it" if he talked. This later proved to be a false accusation. Mark McConnell was at a meeting with his legal advisors in a hotel in Letterkenny at the time of the alleged incident.

Bernard Conlon also made statements and gave evidence on behalf of the gardai relating to alleged breaches of licensing regulations at the McBrearty's premises , 'Frankie's Niteclub' , in Raphoe. In another incident reported to gardai, Mark McConnell was seriously assaulted and suffered a broken leg, a dislocated ankle and ruptured ligaments of the left ankle as he went to buy potatoes in Raphoe ; he was accompanied by Roisin and their baby son when he was attacked by two Barron family members.

In February 1998 , Mark McConnell had an operation to fit a metal plate and seven bolts in his leg in an effort to repair the damage. Statements from the McConnells , together with eyewitness statements, were given to gardai with regard to the assault and a suspended sentence was later imposed on the attackers.(MORE LATER).


6TH MARCH 1923 - 6TH MARCH 2013.

BALLYSEEDY MASSACRE.


"Of all the historic sites in Ireland Ballyseedy stands out in infamy, for it was to this lonely place that nine Republican soldiers were dragged to be murdered by the Free State army. But Ballyseedy is also a place of great heroism, for the bravery of those Volunteers is the bravery that will one day free our country.

Patrick Buckley, father of five children and a seasoned freedom fighter; John Daly, a fearless Republican and Volunteer for many years; young Michael Connell, only 22 years old but dauntless beyond his years; James Walsh, a natural leader and inspiration to the people of Kerry; George O’Shea, Tim Twomey , Pat Hartnett , John O’Connor and Stephen Fuller, who suffered unspeakable torture at the hand of the Free State terrorists, yet who refused to surrender their comrades and their cause. Only Stephen Fullar would survive the brutal massacre to tell the world of the atrocity.

In 1922 these brave men could have chosen the easy path of compromise and surrender by accepting the Treaty of Surrender. They could have enjoyed the comfort and wealth which the English rewarded their slaves in the Free State. But they refused....." (from here.)


THE SOLDIERS MOVED AWAY.

The prisoners’ backs were to the mine.

When it exploded, the sudden hole in the road

Said nothing of our loss

And instead of singing in the dawn

Birds pecked the flesh off the trees

At Ballyseedy Cross.


Yet one prisoner escaped. He said ‘Goodbye, lads’ as the mine

Exploded, then he was on his hands and knees

In the road. Finding he was a wholeman,

Free though burnt, he ran for the ditch, through trees,

Across the side of a hill, over a river, ran

Till he came to a sheltering house.


There was a girl. While he lay, she picked gravel

Out of his body.

He has gravel in him to this day.

For months then he stole from house to house

Sleeping in dugouts, hearing the midnight rain,

Waiting for bullets in the back and head.


They never came. He kept moving though,

Stayed clear of his own place for a long time.

He went home in the end. They took him in.

(By Brendan Kennelly.)

The 90th Anniversary of this warcrime will be marked on Sunday 10th March 2013 : those attending are asked to assemble at the Gates of Ballyseedy Castle Hotel at 2pm, and RSF Vice President , Cáit Trainor , will deliver the main oration. All genuine republicans are welcome!


A TASTE OF THINGS GONE AND STILL TO COME...



These three links give a good indication of why it is that this feckless State is in the sorry condition it is in and explain why it is that it will never recover : because the attitude indicative in those three stories is the prevailing attitude of all those who preside in Leinster House and/or those who aspire to make a career for themselves in that institution.

And, in two years time or less, when the current incumbents are voted out of Office by that section of the electorate that believe that voting them out and voting a 'new' mixture in is the solution, the whole scenario will carry on, with both 'old' and 'new' party players (and probably a few 'independents' to flavour the pot) involved. But those that will be (temporarily) voted out will not suffer , financially, as they will have insulated themselves from the financial chaos they have inflicted on the rest of us. It's not just those that operate the political system that need to be changed - it's the system itself, as it lends itself too readily to the corrupt wide-boys that know , once in, they have about four years to sell themselves to the highest bidder , thus adding themselves to that "insulated" list. Meanwhile, those of us who care about principles, values and decency will carry-on , as best we can, to try and effect real change. Your help would be appreciated.


"THINGS HAVE CHANGED , MRS QUEEN....."



A good man, who ran a good administration. May he Rest in Peace , and may his ideals and objectives be realised by those who follow in his political footsteps. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.


GOING TO A HOTEL FOR 'MOTHER'S DAY' ? SO AM I. BUT.......


......NOT TO BE PAMPERED!
Well - not before the 'job' , anyway : although my three daughters will be with me (the four of us reached a compromise on that one!) there is an event to be taken care of first : Sunday 10th March 2013 may indeed be 'Mother's Day' but it's also the day on which the March raffle takes place and, I have been told, it's also the day on which Roscommon play Meath , Liverpool take on Hotspurs and Man United challenge Chelsea, amongst other matches to be played that day. And our usual 'team' will be on the 'pitch' as well , in the usual hotel venue, to work the monthly raffle but this time, giving the day that's in it, myself and the other girls will be staying on, with each other and our family members, after we hand over €440 in prize money to a few lucky people, for a wee bit of a treat which , I'm told, includes a meal (with all the trimmings!) and the use of the hotel spa for as long as we want!

So don't expect a brief report or a winners list here on Sunday - could be closer to Wednesday by the time they drag me, kicking and screaming, out of that lovely room....!


TRYING TO 'SKIN A CAT' THAT HAS A GUARDIAN ANGEL....


I have mentioned this blog before because, like others, I find it addictive and not only for the 'right' reason (ie hoping that the scuzzbuckets responsible get their just desserts) but also because it shows the depths that some people will go in order to ensure their own comfort and the fact that this is being 'played out' on my own doorstep, so to speak, as the perpetrators and those they have affected live in the same town as I do. SHUDDER!

When the means to ensure those comforts are removed - too late, unfortunately, in this particular case, as the financial damage had by then been done - desperation caused by one of the other side-effects (the moral damage) soon surfaces and manifests itself in a not unexpected manner : the driven desire for more 'hits' regardless of how same are obtained. Simply 'moving on' and being 'grateful' for what you got (and that you are not going to have to repay the money you stole or answer for same in court) is not enough and, even though you no longer have access to the means with which to access the funds (the ATM card and the credit union account, in this case) you still have access to the owner of those funds and, as such, you believe the good times can roll again if you play your cards right.

But 'the cat' that could very well again be your key to those good times now has a 'guardian angel' and that 'angel' is proving to be impossible to circumvent because he, too, is as driven and as motivated as you are , but for the right reasons, and is as determined to stop you as you are to succeed. A post on that blog published a few days ago highlights the 'moral damage' trait that at least one of the perpetrators is now displaying but, in my opinion - and I'm not a psychiatrist, just a mother-of-three who works outside the home as well as in it - the danger that seems to be looming now or in the near future is one where the unsuccessful money-grabber who is already a disturbed person (she must be, to do what she has done?) will come to see her 'quest' (for free money) as being at least equal to the 'need' to get revenge on the 'guardian angel' for preventing her from fulfilling her (first) objective. I would think she is likely to become as obsessive , if not more so, about removing the 'obstacle' as she so obviously is about getting back to the 'good times' but I hope the 'obstacle' proves to be immovable. And I hope he stays safe.




I wrote here recently about contact we had had from a London-based publication , in which a request was made for myself to write a 400-word piece , for publication, re the political situation in the north-east of this country. That piece has now been published and can be viewed here (and should you , too, have a need for a 'Star Writer' (!) then get your people to contact my people!) and I must say I enjoyed the experience : a 'brief' was given to me and we discussed it, 'tweaked' it a wee bit on both 'sides' and the above is the result. So thank you , Frances, for the opportunity and for giving me my big break - promise I won't forget you when I'm in Hollywood with Brad Pitt discussing the film rights ;-) !

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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RSF EASTER COMMEMORATIONS , DUBLIN , 2013.

EASTER COMMEMORATIONS , DUBLIN , 2013.
 

On Easter Sunday this year (31st March 2013) Republican Sinn Féin will hold its annual Deansgrange Easter Commemoration , Dublin, at 1pm : those attending are asked to assemble at Deansgrange Cemetery gates at 12.45pm.

On Easter Monday (1st April 2013) , RSF will as usual hold its main Dublin Easter Commemoration at the GPO in O'Connell Street at 2pm - those attending are asked to assemble at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square at 1.45pm, from where the parade will leave, at that time, for the short march to the GPO.

ALL GENUINE REPUBLICANS WELCOME!

Thanks, Sharon.

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"IRELAND IS TO GREAT TO BE UNCONNECTED WITH US...."

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....' By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.


I recited the background to the case against me to the jury ; I told them of the continuous clashes between militant Republicans and the State forces and I emphasised "militant Republicans" in hopes they would think I had the IRA in mind. I asked the jury not to take sides in those clashes as the government had no right to involve them and told them that the way for them to keep out of it all was to find me not guilty , that it should not concern them whether, in fact , I did those things charged against me , as I had done all sorts of things in this agitation.

Roused by some adventurous words carelessly spoken by me , Judge Hanna suggested I should make a statement on oath , and I leaned towards the jury and said - "I forgot he was listening to us". I think that interruption helped me , and the foreman of the jury, an intelligent man named McGuire, was also likely a good help - I breathed easier when I saw him settle in his place in the jury box without challenge. The jury found me not guilty , but McCool and the others were still on remand in Sligo Jail. They were finally brought before the Dublin Central Criminal Court and this time the State had no trouble in getting a verdict : they were sentenced to a year's imprisonment.

All this time I suffered considerable annoyance from the police - a 'Public Safety Act' gave them a free hand to arrest members of the IRA on whim and it is likely that there were specific instructions to use those powers to make things difficult for certain individuals. Many young men in Dublin went through a bad time , being arrested on their way to work and held for a couple of hours or on their way back from lunch and police would visit their place of work and endanger their jobs.

Members of general headquarters staff usually dodged arrest for their work was secret and they had a wide choice of motor-cars from friendly people , but my work was open and I was picked up almost daily , so I got into the habit of taking my work with me and I wrote articles for 'An Phoblacht' and chapters of a novel while in custody. Uniformed gardai and I always got on very well , and I remember once in Dungloe when my few hours' detention was at an end and I was told I was free , I asked a guard would somebody bring me a cup of tea as I was in a great mood for work and wanted to use it up. I was writing a chapter for the book 'Adrigoole' and I got the tea!(MORE LATER).


THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW......

Roisin McConnell claims she was abused, called "a murdering bitch" , "Satan" and "the Devil". She claims gardai told her that her child would be taken away, that her husband was having an affair, that she would "do seven years in jail" and that she was "going to get stabbed". A named garda told her that when this happened, he would spit on her grave, she says.

By Sandra Mara. From 'Magill' Annual 2002.

Following her release, Roisin McConnell received medical care and was subsequently admitted to the psychiatric ward in Letterkenny General Hospital , where she spent almost two and a half months as a result of her ordeal, which her family says has left her "completely traumatised".

She claims her arrest and the subsequent interrogation terrified her, and following her release from hospital she claims the harrassment continued - "In April 1997, we were in bed and at about a quarter to twelve at night a knock came to our door. Mark got up and answered the door. I could hear my husband speaking to 'Garda A' at the door and I heard Mark saying to him 'We are innocent people' ". Mark McConnell told 'Garda A' that his wife was just out of hospital. Roisin's statement says : " 'Garda A' said 'Guilt put her in there' " and, following the departure of the garda, Roisin took her child to her mother-in-law's house "because I was terrified to stay in my house".

In statements seen by 'Magill' , Roisin McConnell says that in July of that year, 'Garda A' approached the McConnells and that 'Garda A' "came over to Mark and whispered something in his ear. He then took out his notebook and started writing in it. I asked him what he was writing and another garda said 'He can write whatever he likes'. I said you are right, he can write whatever he likes. 'Garda A' then said 'Mrs McConnell, would you like to be arrested?' " She said she and her husband then walked away. She claims there were other witnesses to this incident. (MORE LATER).


27TH FEBRUARY 1916 : PADRAIC PEARSE AND AUSTIN STACK.



"When visiting Tralee on 27 February 1916 Patrick Pearse informed Austin Stack that plans had been prepared by the IRB's military council for an insurrection, that arms were to be landed at Fenit pier on Easter Sunday/Monday, that the Tralee Volunteers were to be responsible for this operation, and that the landed arms were to be used firstly to arm the Kerry Volunteers and then to be distributed to the Clare, Cork, Galway, and Limerick Volunteers. Subsequently Stack secretly and meticulously prepared for the operation. However, unaware that the Aud was arriving three days earlier than the scheduled date (23 April), he failed to make contact with it. His carefully prepared arrangements were further upset by the unexpected arrival of Sir Roger Casement on Banna Strand on Good Friday morning and his subsequent arrest. That evening Stack, on the pretext of wishing to consult a comrade detained by the RIC, walked into the police barracks....."(from here).

That meeting between Pearse and Stack took place 97 years ago today (27th February) to confirm arrangements for an event which, within six years of it having taken place, was to change the place of Ireland within the then dominant 'British Empire'. And as big and powerful as that 'Empire' was , it still valued Ireland , if only because it viewed us a 'back door' into the belly of the beast : on December 3rd , 1784 , for instance, the then British Duke of Rutland was discussing this very subject with C.T. Grenville when the latter replied to a question about Ireland from the former - "Ireland is too great to be unconnected with us, and too near us to be dependant on a foreign state, and too little to be independent." In 1798 , 1803 , 1848 ,1867 and 1916 , that 'connection' had been challenged , in arms, and is still being tested to this day. Irish men and women of that same calibre will assemble on Monday 1st April 2013 at the GPO in Dublin's O'Connell Street to commemorate those men and women. Details re same will be posted here in the next week or so.....


'GROUP OF EIGHT' WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS TO ESTABLISH TEMPORARY BASE IN IRELAND....


The interests of big business - that is , how to manufacture more at less financial cost and sell it for a bigger profit margin to those who can't afford it by paying those who sell it a wage that cannot be lived on - are just some of the anti-people issues that will be discussed at an Irish venue on Monday and Tuesday , 17th and 18th June this year. Such a meeting could be a worthy exercise were it being held to discuss world hunger , political corruption , the 'sale' of health and education resources to the highest bidder etc but that's not its objective : the 'Captains of Industry' intend to lay the foundations for your family budget with the bottom line being how best they can financially profit from selling you the utilities you need to survive.

A group of Irish people are organising their own summit in the hope of offering a counter-balance to the above-mentioned madness and deserve to be supported in their endeavours : your support will , at the very least, signal your opposition to the continuing 'adventures' of the white-collared criminals that now have the upper hand. If you can't physically support this alternative summit , please spread the message it conveys and share the link.


A 'MANOR' IN WHICH TO TREAT THE HOMELESS.


Invite the 'G8' and ignore the 'fruits of their labour'.
This is typical of the attitude of the 'Ruling Elite' in this God-awful State , despite the facts being common knowledge : the victims in this instance do not picket , protest or vote and , in the main, they are not tax payers nor have they organised themselves into a body (as much good as that would do them, considering the enemy that has pitted itself against them) but they are members of this society and they deserve some dignity. And that's part of the problem - they are hoping for a hand-up from the most undignified and unsavoury collection of characters in this State , who are divested of moral reference points , save the one relating to their own well-being. Most of us are only one or two bills away from that scenario , the exception being the career politician - and the only way he/she can continue to be 'a class apart' is by using their position to feather their own nest at the expense of society as a whole. But it doesn't have to be that way.....


THIS IS A RIGHT COD......



This remains an issue of concern for those of us who eat meat in that not only are we not sure where the meat came from but concerns have been raised as to not only if the burger/steak in the package bears any association to the label on that package but questions have been raised as to it being meat at all ?

The same concerns are apparently now beginning to surface (pardon the pun!) in relation to another popular foodstuff : fish. And, in my opinion, this sleight-of-hand (which is what it is , at the very least [if not outright fraud], meat or fish) is done for the same reason - greed. Much bigger profit margins in selling horsemeat as 'beef' and selling Patagonian toothfish as 'Chilean sea bass'. And, again in my opinion, this 'sharp practice' is due to human nature , and results from a moral decline in values which is tolerated by a people who appear to be in a 'coma'. Instead of asking how they can prevent such 'short cuts' , most people seem to ask how they, too , can join the 'short cutters' in making a quick buck , regardless of any health or moral implications involved in doing so. It's a sick symptom of a sick society.


ROYAL IRISH REPUBLICANS...


"Are you willing to become the new Royal Irish Constabulary....?"

....a question which Irish republicans have had to put to former comrades many times (...and here) during this on-going struggle and one which is still being asked to this day : the answer received , verbally, is a weak 'no' but , physically, it's a resounding 'YES , if the price is right...'

At least one such 'offer' was made publicly to Irish republicans by a high-ranking Free State official , a most unpleasant and arrogant person who presumed that his 'standing' in his community would be enough to 'carry the day' - but he was not entertained and his approach was rebuffed. Others, however, appeared to have been mesmerised and flattered that the State should seemingly hold them in such high regard as to seek an audience with them and, of course, the State recognised that flaw in their political makeup and moved to take advantage of it. They allowed themselves to be directed into a political cul-de-sac , too full , by then, of their own importance to notice the withered bones underfoot of those others that had been led down that same avenue. And the financial benefits soon outweighed any remaining doubts that those ex-republicans may have had lurking in a deep recess somewhere in their hearts. Meat , fish and/or 'fowl/foul' : all acceptable "...if the price is right...".


Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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€3118 A WEEK BUT CAN'T AFFORD THE (SECOND) ROOF OVER HIS HEAD.....

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....' By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.


I made a few trips to the District Court before I was remanded for trial at the Central Criminal Court , but it wasn't too clear to me what lay ahead. I thought it likely that somebody in a position to indulge himself lost patience with me and decided to have a go at putting me out of the way for a while. I encouraged myself that District Justice Cussen did not take too serious a view of my case.

There was, however , always that nagging thought that I could get a considerable sentence - it was not that I minded jail so much, for I can always use time usefully enough but, without me, 'An Phoblacht' might lose sight of the townlands. Therein lay my worry.

Mr Hanna was a trial judge and when I was asked how I pleaded , guilty or not guilty, I remained silent and greatly to my amusement I found that this put the State to the trouble of empanelling a jury to hear evidence to determine whether I was mute of malice or by the visitation of God. I waited until the first juryman got to his seat and I spoke across to him : "Malice" , I said, "sheer malice." The waiting jurors laughed , but the senior counsel for the State pictured me to the jury as a good bit of a scoundrel who used considerable gifts to stir up trouble. In the course of his address, he read the exchange of messages between the landlord's agent and me, quoting from 'An Phoblacht' , and he was taken aback when the jury laughed.

When the State rested its case and my turn came, I explained to the jurors that refusing to recognise the court simply meant that I didn't recognise "the lad in the wig". But I did recognise the jury, however, as they were neighbours of mine and I had a word to say to them....(MORE LATER).


THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW......

Roisin McConnell claims she was abused, called "a murdering bitch" , "Satan" and "the Devil". She claims gardai told her that her child would be taken away, that her husband was having an affair, that she would "do seven years in jail" and that she was "going to get stabbed". A named garda told her that when this happened, he would spit on her grave, she says.

By Sandra Mara. From 'Magill' Annual 2002.


The other named garda "then got photographs of the body of Richie Barron and started to push them into my face and made me look at them. While this was going on, 'Garda A' then started to call me "the Devil" and told me I was Satan. He also told me that Richie Barron was going to come back and haunt me and told me that my husband was having an affair with [named female]. 'Garda A' spat on the wall and he made me bless myself and pray to my dead father.

He said he would say a prayer to Richie Barron and then said to me that I ask my father to tell the truth. All this went on for about two hours between six and eight o'clock in the evening. 'Garda A' told me that I was going to get stabbed in Raphoe town and that he would come and spit on my grave. He then lifted his leg and farted."

Following her release, the custody officer asked if she had any complaints, and she complained that 'Garda A' and the other garda had assaulted her, shoving her from shoulder to shoulder around the interview room. She says the custody officer did not take any written note of her complaint but was "smirking" at the time. The female officer arranged for her to be collected from the station and that while in the room , this female officer said "For what it's worth, I believe you."(MORE LATER).


IRISH REPUBLICANS TO COMMEMORATE THE CLONMULT MARTYRS.

The 14 IRA Volunteers that died as a result of the Clonmult massacre in February 1921 will be commemorated on Sunday 24th February 2013.


On the 20th February 1921 , IRA Captain James P. Aherne and Volunteer James Glavin , two members of an IRA 'Flying Squad' that was based in Cork, watched as one of their number headed off on a short stroll from the cottage they were in to a near-by stream to collect water for the IRA Squad : a poacher , an ex-British Army man, was on the far side of the stream laying traps for rabbits when he spotted the man , whom he knew to be an IRA member, and watched as the IRA man filled as many buckets as he could carry and observed as the Volunteer headed to the near-by cottage. The poacher reported the sighting to the local RIC and they , in turn , called-in a Black and Tan murder gang. The cottage was soon surrounded by these armed pro-British thugs. Twelve I.R.A. Volunteers were killed and another two were executed later :

Captain James Aherne from Cobh County Cork was killed while jumping a fence 200 yards from the house.

Volunteer Jeremiah Aherne, from Midleton, County Cork ,was killed in action.

Volunteer Liam Aherne, from Midleton, County Cork, killed in action.

Volunteer Donal Dennehy, from Midleton, County Cork, killed in action.

Volunteer David Desmond, from Midleton, County Cork, killed in action.

Volunteer Michael Desmond, from Midleton, County Cork, was killed while attempting to fight his way back into the house.

Volunteer James Glavin, from Cobh, County Cork, was killed during the fighting.

Volunteer Michael Hallahan, from Midleton, County Cork, killed in action.

Volunteer Richard Hegarty, from Garryvoe, County Cork, killed in front of the house when attempting to go for aid.

Volunteer John Joe Joyce, from Midleton, County Cork, killed while attempting to re-gain entry to the farm house.

Volunteer Maurice Moore, from Cobh, County Cork, was captured during the Ambush,and was later executed at Cork Military Barracks on April 28th 1921.

Volunteer Joseph Morrissey, from Athlone, County Westmeath, killed during the fighting.

Volunteer Christopher O'Sullivan, from Midleton, County Cork, killed during the fighting.

Volunteer Paddy O'Sullivan, from Cobh, County Cork, was captured and was later executed at Cork Military Barracks, on April 28th 1921.

The memorial at the site of the original farmhouse.

The graves at Midleton cemetery of the men who died at Clonmult.

The Clonmult Martyrs Commemoration Committee will pay tribute to those brave IRA Volunteers on Sunday , 24th February 2013 : those attending are asked to assemble at the Courthouse , Main Street, Midleton , County Cork , at 2.30pm from where the 90-minute commemoration will begin. All genuine republicans are welcome!


SIX FOOT OF CONCRETE - 21ST FEBRUARY 1976 :

Frank Stagg's coffin was hijacked in February 1976 by the then Free State Fine Gael and Labour administration.

Exhumed in glory a November moon was drifting

And freedom’s light aglow

When some IRA had gathered in a graveyard in Mayo.

Those brave Irish Freedom fighters

Who came together in the West

Had come to fill the promise to lay Frank Stagg at rest.

Frank Stagg had begun his fourth (and final) hunger strike in late 1975 - having been convicted under the notorious British Conspiracy Laws - as it was the only 'weapon' he had at his disposal with which to impress on his British captors his desire to be repatriated to Ireland. He died, blind and weighing just four stone, in Wakefield Prison on 12th February 1976, after 62 days on hunger strike.

His remains were hijacked by suited, uniformed and armed members of the State , acting under orders from FS Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and his 'Justice' Minister, Paddy Cooney - the airplane carrying his coffin was diverted from Dublin to Shannon and, when it landed, the Special Branch surrounded it and forcibly removed the coffin and buried it, supported by an armed escort, under six feet of concrete in Leigue Cemetery in Ballina, County Mayo , in a grave purchased by the Free Staters and which was located about 70 meters from the Republican Plot in that cemetery.

For the following six months, armed State operatives maintained a heavy presence in the graveyard to prevent Irish republicans from affording Frank Stagg a proper burial but they were not the only group keeping a watch on the grave : the IRA were aware of their presence and , after the Staters withdrew, the IRA made their move: on the night of November 5th, 1976, the IRA disinterred Frank Stagg’s remains and reburied them with his comrade, Michael Gaughan.

When questioned in Leinster House about this sordid affair, its 'Director' , Paddy Cooney , stated - "The persistent attempts by members of an unlawful organisation and their associates to exploit the situation that arose are well known and, indeed, notorious. Because of this and because also of certain obligations of confidentiality, I must decline to make any comment on the question of the choice of burial place...."

The "question of the choice of burial place" was, thankfully, not one that was left to Cooney and his thugs to decide.


FINE WORDS, AND WELL-DELIVERED : IT'S THE SOURCE THAT IS SUSPECT.


Abused , exploited and escorted by the State : "residents" (inmates) from a Magdalene Asylum (as they were more commonly referred to) in Dublin, pictured whilst attending a Catholic religious festival in 1960.


Should be no need to explain this issue to any reader as it has been in the news here for weeks in relation to the 'will-he-won't-he-apologise' speculation engaged in by the media. And he did , in a well-timed and expertly choreographed move, no doubt designed by his overpaid taxpayer-funded spin doctors , whom had obviously learned a lesson from the manner in which a different Fine Gaeler had publicly treated (and threatened) another victim of the State.

As soon as some other issue distracts the public and the media, and the spotlight fades from the Magdalene women, this Fine Gael and Labour State coalition will quietly attempt a divide-and-conquer strategy with the women ie 'play' one off the other and place every legal obstacle they can in the path of these State victims ever obtaining proper justice. Words are cheap and, when you know you are going to get politically annihilated at the next election due to the economic terrorism you have inflicted on the electorate, you have nothing to lose by sobbingly latching-on to a 'hot topic' and promising that it is your intention to 'do the right thing'.

As with Bridget McCole, it's nothing personal : it's just business, Free State-style. Your place is at the bottom of the Ivory Tower and how dare you attempt to challenge those in it. That's just the way this place operates. Those victims of the Magdalene Asylums will come to realise that in time.


GERRY SHOULD HAVE ASKED AENGUS OR SEÁN FOR A 'DIG OUT'(....or offered them one!).......

Flies business class to America for an operation which was , he claimed, financially out of his reach whilst maintaining a holiday home he can't afford to keep.


PSF's Seán Crowe and, if you look carefully, you'll see the gravy train in the background....


Aengus Ó Snodaigh, on the ball when it comes to saving himself money - and claiming it....


In 2012 , Aengus joined an elite 'inner circle' of Leinster House reps who claimed €770 each a week in travel and expenses (on top of their salary of €1,920 a week) - Catherine Byrne (FG) , Eric Byrne (Labour) and Joan Collins (ULA).

Seán Crowe (PSF Leinster House member for the Tallaght, Dublin, area), not to be outdone in the 'I'm worth it, too...'-stakes, also pocketed €770 a week in travel and expenses (on top of his salary of €1,920 a week) in 2012: that's a drain on the State taxpayer of €2,690 a week , every week, for each of those named above and some even awarded themselves more than that, including the above-mentioned Gerry Adams who, last year, collected a taxpayer-funded weekly salary of €1,920 and also collected 'expenses' of €1,198 a week on top of that salary - a weekly total of €3,118 !

It's obviously not enough , as he's having money worries to the extent that he may not be able to keep his holiday home (despite having the financial wherewithal to remortgage the four-bedroomed property last November) and he is dependent on rich supporters to bail him out, health-wise. To ease his burden, we have set-up an account into which you, the reader, can donate (preferably US Dollars , but he won't refuse any currency) :




Those without a 'PayPal' account can click here to donate. Much appreciated.....

Also ,Mr Adams is right to say that he needs to apologise for past actions, not the least of which was his attempt to publicly hijack Irish republicanism in 1986 (he spent the three years prior to that year working towards that objective , 'inhouse') but , due to the hard work of genuine Irish republicans, Adams only succeeded in exposing himself as just another constitutional nationalist hiding under a republican banner and others of that ilk , both from within the then Sinn Féin organisation and outside of it, rushed to join him in his 'new' enterprise. Come to think of it , an apology would not suffice.


Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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