JOSEPH BRENAN ; 1828-1857 : 'Young Ireland' Leader .......
.......Although only in his early 20's , Joseph Brenan was in a leadership position in 'The Young Ireland' Movement ; he joined up with a group of Rebels , under the command of John O'Mahony , in the Waterford area .......
Joseph Brenan fought alongside O'Mahony's group against the British forces when 'The Young Irelanders' rose-up in July 1848 but , following the collapse of that Rising , Joseph Brenan was captured and imprisoned in Newgate Jail first , then, after a few months , was shifted to Carrickfergus Jail , then to Kilmainham Jail in Dublin .
Finally , after seven months detention , he was released (without trial) and became involved with Bernard Fulham in the production of a new Rebel newspaper , ' The Irishman ' ; he used 'The Irishman' to call for the population to take back in arms that which the Brits held by arms ; that was in March 1849 - in September that same year (1849) , after seven months writing articles and Editorials for 'The Irishman' newspaper , Joseph Brenan was told that James Fintan Lalor was planning an attack on the British .
J F Lalor was also in a leadership position in 'The Young Ireland' Movement and was well-known for his writings on the land issue .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
".......The man who was following Jim Grey had been warned off ; the local IRA then picked him up and investigated him and his family - we all agreed to leave the matter at that , as there seemed to be no threat to us ......."
" We finished our shopping and returned to the milk-cart . The tyres we purchased had arrived and we stowed them under the seat and the milk churns . Sitting aboard , we started out the Douglas Road , but had not gone far when we found the street partly blocked and a group of RIC men searching every vehicle that passed either way . Driving up to the barricade we were motioned through without question . Evidently , they tired of questioning the milk-man who passed them by every day . In any case , since the advent of the Black-and-Tans the RIC had ceased to be enthusiastic about the 'law'.
Very soon we were clear of the city and saw with relief the open country . It was good to be safely back at Ballygarvan with our four comrades and to see the Buick , and the Lewis-Gun , and our rifles . That night , having said good-bye to our kindly hostess , Miss Walsh , we started on our journey home to Ballyvourney . This time we choose the southern route , through Ballinhassig where we slipped by the rear of the British Barracks .
The Brits heard our Buick climbing the hill , however , and sent out a message to warn all their posts that we had passed . Our road from the south led us to within a mile of the British Barracks at Ballincollig , and , since we could not use lights , we had to travel very slowly . By-passing trenched roads delayed us further ; finally , we crossed the River Lee at Rooves Bridge and came into Coachford as day was breaking . So far , so good ......."
(MORE LATER).
GETTING OUT .......
'Britain has the economic clout to impose peace in Northern Ireland (sic), argue BOB ROWTHORN and NAOMI WAYNE . Why does'nt it use it ? '
(First published in 'New Statesman and Society' Magazine , 9th September , 1988 , pages 12 and 13).
Re-produced here in 10 parts .
[Apologises beforehand for the use of the descriptions "Northern Ireland" and "Province" , and the constant use of the terms "Catholics" and "Protestants" in the following ten-part article ; they are not our descriptions or terms , but the Authors].
(7 of 10).
Contraception is now legal and available in the 'Republic' . Abortions are banned north and south of the border , and all Irish women , Protestant and Catholic , have to come to Britain for terminations . Divorce remains the main area of apparent difference , but even here the gulf should not be insurmountable . While divorce remains prohibited under the constitution of the 'Republic' (whereas the 'province's' divorce laws parallel Britain's) , new laws being introduced will soon give much the same entitlements as divorce , save the right to remarry .
These positive measures should do much to minimise the risk and extent of inter-community violence . But Britain would also have to act immediately to take all practicable measures to disarm Protestants . There are around 6,000 members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and a further 13,000 in the RUC . Most of them carry personal arms for self-defence and also have access to 'official' arsenals containing more destructive weapons (high-velocity rifles , sub-machine guns ,etc) . The UDR should be disbanded , thus greatly reducing Protestant access to 'official' arsenals .
It may also be necessary to disband the RUC , but much would depend on whether the RUC's loyalty and discipline held .......
(MORE LATER).
Friday, June 04, 2004
JOSEPH BRENAN ; 1828-1857 : 'Young Ireland' Leader .......
....... Joseph Brenan was living in Dublin when the British 'Authorities' closed-down 'The United Irishman' newspaper in May 1848 ; the Brits had been keeping an eye on Joseph Brenan , who was writing articles for various publications calling on people to rise up in arms against them .......
After they closed down 'The United Irishman' newspaper , the Brits watched as Joseph Brenan began writing for the 'The Irish Tribune' newspaper , edited by Richard Dalton Williams and Kevin Izod O'Doherty , and another short-lived Rebel newspaper , 'The Irish Felon' , edited by John Martin .
Joseph Brenan , now in his early 20's , and in a leadership position in 'The Young Irelanders' Movement , was quite openly calling for an immediate Rising against the British , to begin in Dublin , and which , he opined , would spread to the rest of the country ; but Dublin was the then stronghold of the British presence (mid-1848) and it was suggested that a military campaign against the Brits would have a better chance of success were it to start in the rural areas .
A group of Irish Rebels , under the Command of John O'Mahony (who was later to be elected leader of the American Fenian Organisation , 'Clann na Gael' , and was to be described by the Fenian author John O'Leary as - " ...an advanced democrat of socialist opinions " ) was operating in the County Waterford area and Joseph Brenan caught up with O'Mahony and his group near the Comeragh Mountains .......
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
"....... Jim Grey and I split-up , with myself about twenty-yards behind him , as we walked to 'Johnson and Perrots' garage for tyres ; Jim did'nt know it yet , but he had 'picked-up' a 'tail' , and I kept a close eye on both Jim and this other man . When this stranger was satisfied that Jim was in the Office of the garage , he turned to go ......."
" My left hand fell on the strangers neck ; he struggled to complete his exit but failed - I pushed him in the doorway , and into the corner formed by the sliding door and its pillar . He demanded an explanation but I told him to wait for a little while . Presently Jim returned from the garage Office . " We will go , Mick ," he said , then he caught sight of the prisoner . " Who is he ? " he asked . " I don't know , " I answered , and told him the story .
The man admitted that I had told the truth , that he had followed Jim , but said that he had done so through idle curiosity . " You were going to Union Quay ," (the British Barracks) Jim said gently , " and now my poor man , " he added , " you may carry on , but you'll never reach the place . " The tout made further protests against the idea that he meant to do us any harm , and so we left him . We reported the matter to 'Flurrie' , one of our men in the area , and the tout was picked-up , tried and acquitted ; his plea was still that of idle curiosity .
It seemed an extraordinary plea , but all his people were found to be honest and in no way hostile towards us - we were glad to hear that he got the benefit of the doubt . To hear of a young Irishman convicted of spying on his own people would be the most melancholy news of all ......."
(MORE LATER).
GETTING OUT .......
'Britain has the economic clout to impose peace in Northern Ireland (sic), argue BOB ROWTHORN and NAOMI WAYNE . Why does'nt it use it ? '
(First published in 'New Statesman and Society' Magazine , 9th September , 1988 , pages 12 and 13).
Re-produced here in 10 parts .
[Apologises beforehand for the use of the descriptions "Northern Ireland" and "Province" , and the constant use of the terms "Catholics" and "Protestants" in the following ten-part article ; they are not our descriptions or terms , but the Authors].
(6 of 10).
Many Protestants fear that they would be oppressed by the Catholic majority in a united Ireland ; this fear is greatly exaggerated . Leading nationalist politicians of all kinds have frequently made it clear that they would guarantee Protestant religious and political freedoms in a united Ireland . But Britain and the 'Republic' should at once take positive measures to reassure Protestants about the kind of future they could expect .
They would have to be welcomed into the new state and given specific guarantees over employment rights , civil and religious liberties , and so on . Britain's continued aid would underpin these assurances and Britain could make it clear that its continuing economic power in Ireland would be used , if need be , further to protect their rights and liberties .
In any event , the gap between Catholic and Protestant moral values is nowhere near as large as is often assumed . It should by no means be unbridgeable in a united Ireland .......
(MORE LATER).
....... Joseph Brenan was living in Dublin when the British 'Authorities' closed-down 'The United Irishman' newspaper in May 1848 ; the Brits had been keeping an eye on Joseph Brenan , who was writing articles for various publications calling on people to rise up in arms against them .......
After they closed down 'The United Irishman' newspaper , the Brits watched as Joseph Brenan began writing for the 'The Irish Tribune' newspaper , edited by Richard Dalton Williams and Kevin Izod O'Doherty , and another short-lived Rebel newspaper , 'The Irish Felon' , edited by John Martin .
Joseph Brenan , now in his early 20's , and in a leadership position in 'The Young Irelanders' Movement , was quite openly calling for an immediate Rising against the British , to begin in Dublin , and which , he opined , would spread to the rest of the country ; but Dublin was the then stronghold of the British presence (mid-1848) and it was suggested that a military campaign against the Brits would have a better chance of success were it to start in the rural areas .
A group of Irish Rebels , under the Command of John O'Mahony (who was later to be elected leader of the American Fenian Organisation , 'Clann na Gael' , and was to be described by the Fenian author John O'Leary as - " ...an advanced democrat of socialist opinions " ) was operating in the County Waterford area and Joseph Brenan caught up with O'Mahony and his group near the Comeragh Mountains .......
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
"....... Jim Grey and I split-up , with myself about twenty-yards behind him , as we walked to 'Johnson and Perrots' garage for tyres ; Jim did'nt know it yet , but he had 'picked-up' a 'tail' , and I kept a close eye on both Jim and this other man . When this stranger was satisfied that Jim was in the Office of the garage , he turned to go ......."
" My left hand fell on the strangers neck ; he struggled to complete his exit but failed - I pushed him in the doorway , and into the corner formed by the sliding door and its pillar . He demanded an explanation but I told him to wait for a little while . Presently Jim returned from the garage Office . " We will go , Mick ," he said , then he caught sight of the prisoner . " Who is he ? " he asked . " I don't know , " I answered , and told him the story .
The man admitted that I had told the truth , that he had followed Jim , but said that he had done so through idle curiosity . " You were going to Union Quay ," (the British Barracks) Jim said gently , " and now my poor man , " he added , " you may carry on , but you'll never reach the place . " The tout made further protests against the idea that he meant to do us any harm , and so we left him . We reported the matter to 'Flurrie' , one of our men in the area , and the tout was picked-up , tried and acquitted ; his plea was still that of idle curiosity .
It seemed an extraordinary plea , but all his people were found to be honest and in no way hostile towards us - we were glad to hear that he got the benefit of the doubt . To hear of a young Irishman convicted of spying on his own people would be the most melancholy news of all ......."
(MORE LATER).
GETTING OUT .......
'Britain has the economic clout to impose peace in Northern Ireland (sic), argue BOB ROWTHORN and NAOMI WAYNE . Why does'nt it use it ? '
(First published in 'New Statesman and Society' Magazine , 9th September , 1988 , pages 12 and 13).
Re-produced here in 10 parts .
[Apologises beforehand for the use of the descriptions "Northern Ireland" and "Province" , and the constant use of the terms "Catholics" and "Protestants" in the following ten-part article ; they are not our descriptions or terms , but the Authors].
(6 of 10).
Many Protestants fear that they would be oppressed by the Catholic majority in a united Ireland ; this fear is greatly exaggerated . Leading nationalist politicians of all kinds have frequently made it clear that they would guarantee Protestant religious and political freedoms in a united Ireland . But Britain and the 'Republic' should at once take positive measures to reassure Protestants about the kind of future they could expect .
They would have to be welcomed into the new state and given specific guarantees over employment rights , civil and religious liberties , and so on . Britain's continued aid would underpin these assurances and Britain could make it clear that its continuing economic power in Ireland would be used , if need be , further to protect their rights and liberties .
In any event , the gap between Catholic and Protestant moral values is nowhere near as large as is often assumed . It should by no means be unbridgeable in a united Ireland .......
(MORE LATER).
Thursday, June 03, 2004
JOSEPH BRENAN ; 1828-1857 : 'Young Ireland' Leader .......
....... At 19 years young (in January 1848) , Joseph Brenan met John Mitchel , one of the leaders of the 'Young Ireland' Movement , in Cork .......
The two men apparently knew of each other , and Joseph Brenan began writing articles for the 'Young Irelanders' newspaper , 'The United Irishman' . It was in this newspaper that John Mitchel first suggested that England should be attacked by Irish Rebels while that country was preoccupied with war elsewhere (an example which Sean Russell was to refer to 91 years later , in 1939 , during the IRA Bombing Campaign in England . However , for what its worth , we should also mention the fact that the Irish Rebel leader John Mitchel fought in the American Civil War on the side of the South and slavery ... !).
However , I digress (again !) ; Joseph Brenan was told by John Mitchel that plans were at an advanced stage in Dublin regarding a Rising against the British , and Joseph Brenan wanted to play his part - so he moved from Cork , to Dublin , and was living in the capital when 'The United Irishman' newspaper was suppressed by the British , in May 1848 . Due to his constant "call-to-arms" in his various writings , Joseph Brenan was being monitored by the British 'Authorities in Dublin Castle .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
".......We were calm and pleasant to the Black and Tan who had stopped and 'searched' us , with his comrades looking on . He was happy with our claim to be on his side , just from a different Barracks . We had been only seconds away from a shoot-out , had the Tan behaved differently ......."
" Well over 40 years have passed since that incident and it is still fresh in my memory - indeed , while I have Jim Grey to revive it , there is no fear that I shall forget it . For when we meet and there is a quorum , Jim does not fail to turn the laugh against me - " Wisha , Mick , " he says , " do you remember the day you picked up the cap for the Black-and-Tan in the Grand Parade ? "
We left the Grand Parade after our encounter with the Tan and soon stood at the counter of Wallaces Shop in St. Augustine Street . Scarcely had we done so , when Sheila and Nora came in with the news that the whole block of buildings around us was cordoned off and a search was proceeding ; we looked out - both ends of the narrow street were held by British troops . We slipped unnoticed across to St. Augustine's Church , and went through the church to the Washington Street door . Here , too , it was cordoned off at the Parade and Main Street . We would have to wait and see what happened .
We knelt down and prayed while we waited . When we looked out , they had gone , so we returned to Wallaces Shop and got any news that was going from Sheila and Nora . Then I insisted on Jim going into a barber's shop at the corner for a shave . He did so and we started for Johnson and Perrots Garage to get the tyres for the Buick . Jim was to go first , with me following twenty yards behind . We had just started out when I noticed a man in civilian clothes fall in behind Jim and follow him at a distance of ten yards or so ; I fell in behind the tout at about the same distance . Jim turned many a corner and crossed many roads before we reached the open space in front of the garage .
Then he crossed the open space and entered the garage through the big door ; the 'shadow' followed to the big door but stopped at the doorway on the right hand side - hidden from view from inside , he craned his neck around the sliding door to watch Jim cross diagonally a space of floor to the office . I had been an interested spectator from across the street . Satisfied , now , that he had located Jim in the office of the garage , the tout took a pace backwards and had started to execute a left turn when my left hand fell on his neck ....... "
(MORE LATER).
GETTING OUT .......
'Britain has the economic clout to impose peace in Northern Ireland (sic), argue BOB ROWTHORN and NAOMI WAYNE . Why does'nt it use it ? '
(First published in 'New Statesman and Society' Magazine , 9th September , 1988 , pages 12 and 13).
Re-produced here in 10 parts .
[Apologises beforehand for the use of the descriptions "Northern Ireland" and "Province" , and the constant use of the terms "Catholics" and "Protestants" in the following ten-part article ; they are not our descriptions or terms , but the Authors].
(5 of 10).
Perhaps the most common objection to British withdrawal is the fear that the Protestant community would take to arms to preserve an independent 'state' , thus precipitating a bloodbath in which large numbers of Catholics and Protestants would be killed . This danger is taken so much for granted , even among people who would otherwise advocate re-unifying Ireland , that it is rarely subjected to any scrutiny . But how well-founded is it in reality ?
If Britain simply pulled-out , this sort of scenario is quite possible ; but a planned and responsible withdrawal , founded upon a firm and unequivocal decision to leave and buttressed by the economic strategy we have outlined , would have entirely different results . The decision would have to be clearly irreversible and the timetable for withdrawal would have to be fairly short to minimise the time available for resistance to be mobilised .
The certain knowledge of British withdrawal would produce confusion and disunity within the Protestant community , which already knows that to destroy a rebellion would require no military campaign by Britain , but merely a few weeks' economic sanctions ...
(MORE LATER).
....... At 19 years young (in January 1848) , Joseph Brenan met John Mitchel , one of the leaders of the 'Young Ireland' Movement , in Cork .......
The two men apparently knew of each other , and Joseph Brenan began writing articles for the 'Young Irelanders' newspaper , 'The United Irishman' . It was in this newspaper that John Mitchel first suggested that England should be attacked by Irish Rebels while that country was preoccupied with war elsewhere (an example which Sean Russell was to refer to 91 years later , in 1939 , during the IRA Bombing Campaign in England . However , for what its worth , we should also mention the fact that the Irish Rebel leader John Mitchel fought in the American Civil War on the side of the South and slavery ... !).
However , I digress (again !) ; Joseph Brenan was told by John Mitchel that plans were at an advanced stage in Dublin regarding a Rising against the British , and Joseph Brenan wanted to play his part - so he moved from Cork , to Dublin , and was living in the capital when 'The United Irishman' newspaper was suppressed by the British , in May 1848 . Due to his constant "call-to-arms" in his various writings , Joseph Brenan was being monitored by the British 'Authorities in Dublin Castle .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
".......We were calm and pleasant to the Black and Tan who had stopped and 'searched' us , with his comrades looking on . He was happy with our claim to be on his side , just from a different Barracks . We had been only seconds away from a shoot-out , had the Tan behaved differently ......."
" Well over 40 years have passed since that incident and it is still fresh in my memory - indeed , while I have Jim Grey to revive it , there is no fear that I shall forget it . For when we meet and there is a quorum , Jim does not fail to turn the laugh against me - " Wisha , Mick , " he says , " do you remember the day you picked up the cap for the Black-and-Tan in the Grand Parade ? "
We left the Grand Parade after our encounter with the Tan and soon stood at the counter of Wallaces Shop in St. Augustine Street . Scarcely had we done so , when Sheila and Nora came in with the news that the whole block of buildings around us was cordoned off and a search was proceeding ; we looked out - both ends of the narrow street were held by British troops . We slipped unnoticed across to St. Augustine's Church , and went through the church to the Washington Street door . Here , too , it was cordoned off at the Parade and Main Street . We would have to wait and see what happened .
We knelt down and prayed while we waited . When we looked out , they had gone , so we returned to Wallaces Shop and got any news that was going from Sheila and Nora . Then I insisted on Jim going into a barber's shop at the corner for a shave . He did so and we started for Johnson and Perrots Garage to get the tyres for the Buick . Jim was to go first , with me following twenty yards behind . We had just started out when I noticed a man in civilian clothes fall in behind Jim and follow him at a distance of ten yards or so ; I fell in behind the tout at about the same distance . Jim turned many a corner and crossed many roads before we reached the open space in front of the garage .
Then he crossed the open space and entered the garage through the big door ; the 'shadow' followed to the big door but stopped at the doorway on the right hand side - hidden from view from inside , he craned his neck around the sliding door to watch Jim cross diagonally a space of floor to the office . I had been an interested spectator from across the street . Satisfied , now , that he had located Jim in the office of the garage , the tout took a pace backwards and had started to execute a left turn when my left hand fell on his neck ....... "
(MORE LATER).
GETTING OUT .......
'Britain has the economic clout to impose peace in Northern Ireland (sic), argue BOB ROWTHORN and NAOMI WAYNE . Why does'nt it use it ? '
(First published in 'New Statesman and Society' Magazine , 9th September , 1988 , pages 12 and 13).
Re-produced here in 10 parts .
[Apologises beforehand for the use of the descriptions "Northern Ireland" and "Province" , and the constant use of the terms "Catholics" and "Protestants" in the following ten-part article ; they are not our descriptions or terms , but the Authors].
(5 of 10).
Perhaps the most common objection to British withdrawal is the fear that the Protestant community would take to arms to preserve an independent 'state' , thus precipitating a bloodbath in which large numbers of Catholics and Protestants would be killed . This danger is taken so much for granted , even among people who would otherwise advocate re-unifying Ireland , that it is rarely subjected to any scrutiny . But how well-founded is it in reality ?
If Britain simply pulled-out , this sort of scenario is quite possible ; but a planned and responsible withdrawal , founded upon a firm and unequivocal decision to leave and buttressed by the economic strategy we have outlined , would have entirely different results . The decision would have to be clearly irreversible and the timetable for withdrawal would have to be fairly short to minimise the time available for resistance to be mobilised .
The certain knowledge of British withdrawal would produce confusion and disunity within the Protestant community , which already knows that to destroy a rebellion would require no military campaign by Britain , but merely a few weeks' economic sanctions ...
(MORE LATER).
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
JOSEPH BRENAN ; 1828-1857 : 'Young Ireland' Leader .......
.......When Joseph Brenan was 14 years young (1842) , a man named Hughes was hung in Armagh by the British Administration ; the then Editor of 'The Belfast Vindicator' newspaper , Charles Gavan Duffy , described Hughes' execution as "legal assassination" and was prosecuted by the British Attorney-General for doing so . That was in the summer of 1842 .......
One day that summer , Charles Gavan Duffy (who , incidentally , went on to become Premier of Australia !) , Thomas Davis and John Dillon were walking through Dublin's Phoenix Park , discussing the Hughes case and the feeble newspaper reportage of same , when all three decided to do something about it ; ' The Nation ' newspaper was born . It published an issue every week for 58 years (1842 - 1900) , sold for sixpence a copy (which was a days wages at the time !) and , at its most popular , was shifting 10,000 copies a week ! Indeed , so popular was 'The Nation' newspaper (and , in those days , so expensive) that some of its readers 'hired' the 'paper from newsvendors at one-penny an hour !
....... digressive tangents - I'm full of them !
Joseph Brenan was 19 years young (in January 1848) when he first met John Mitchel , one of the leaders of the 'Young Ireland' Movement , while both were in the city of Cork on separate business .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
"....... Jim Grey and myself were in Cork City , and in a tight spot ; Black and Tans in front and a British Army patrol in a car following us . We walked past the Tans and kept going . Then a shout - "HALT !" We walked on ......."
" The demand to 'halt' was repeated , and we heard footsteps running behind us . We stopped and looked back ; a Black and Tan was running towards us , so we walked slowly back to meet him . Jim was the nearer to him and I lagged behind . Now he stood in front of Jim with his hands out-stretched and raised slightly , in the attitude of one preparing to search : " What is your name ?" he asked Jim , who replied " Grey . " "Grey ! From where ?" " Cork Barracks ," came the answer .
Jim took a chance ; his name was 'mud' at Cork Barracks for some time , but the Black and Tans at Tuckey Street did not know that . The answer seemed to impress the Tan . Now there was another diversion - a sudden gust of wind blew off his peaked cap , and it rolled along the ground towards me . Stooping , I caught it , straightened myself up and , walking towards him with a pleasant smile , gave it to him . He was delighted ! It was not often that a Black and Tan received such courtesy . "Thank you very much indeed ," he said to me , with a smile , "I suppose you have not a gun on you ? ," he added , as raising his hands high he brought them down in a slow sweeping motion , the motion of searching or feeling for a hidden weapon .
This movement of the hands was merely a show for his comrades at the corner - he never touched my body , neither did he touch Jim . I must say he was a decent-looking man for a Black and Tan : his face showed no signs of the brutality that stamped most of them as a type . I would have been sorry for him had he rubbed us the wrong way , for we had guns on us . Our lives were forfeit anyway this long time and while , with our hands in the dog's mouth , we were willing to try out diplomacy to its fullest extent , no enemy , however strong numerically , was going to deprive us of loaded guns , and then torture and kill us at their leisure ......."
(MORE LATER).
GETTING OUT .......
'Britain has the economic clout to impose peace in Northern Ireland (sic), argue BOB ROWTHORN and NAOMI WAYNE . Why does'nt it use it ? '
(First published in 'New Statesman and Society' Magazine , 9th September , 1988 , pages 12 and 13).
Re-produced here in 10 parts .
[Apologises beforehand for the use of the descriptions "Northern Ireland" and "Province" , and the constant use of the terms "Catholics" and "Protestants" in the following ten-part article ; they are not our descriptions or terms , but the Authors].
(4 of 10).
The economy of the North is in severe crisis . In the 1950's and 1960's , the 'province' was transformed as local industry was run down and multinationals moved in to dominate its economy . But in the last 20 years this process has gone into reverse , with multinationals reducing their activities or pulling out altogether .
Only huge subsidies from the British Government keep the 'province' afloat : in 1985 , some £1,700 million Sterling in all , now (ie 1988) something approaching £2,700 million Sterling . Despite its numerous problems and high unemployment - around 18 per cent - the 'Republic' (ie-the Free State) has a much stronger economy than 'Northern Ireland' and its long-term prospects are much better (though they are by no means rosy) . Protestants fear that re-unification would bring impoverishment ; but if they co-operated in that re-unification , then peace would come rapidly , and with it the benefits of economic recovery .
If they were to fight a rearguard action , the benefits of peace would take longer to materialise . Even so , it could take some 15 to 20 years for the economy of the North to be strong enough to stand on its own feet . Continuing aid would therefore involve a significant commitment from Britain , even counting the savings from military withdrawal . In the longer run , the cost would be of course much less than that of continued involvement and would eventually come to an end ...
(MORE LATER).
.......When Joseph Brenan was 14 years young (1842) , a man named Hughes was hung in Armagh by the British Administration ; the then Editor of 'The Belfast Vindicator' newspaper , Charles Gavan Duffy , described Hughes' execution as "legal assassination" and was prosecuted by the British Attorney-General for doing so . That was in the summer of 1842 .......
One day that summer , Charles Gavan Duffy (who , incidentally , went on to become Premier of Australia !) , Thomas Davis and John Dillon were walking through Dublin's Phoenix Park , discussing the Hughes case and the feeble newspaper reportage of same , when all three decided to do something about it ; ' The Nation ' newspaper was born . It published an issue every week for 58 years (1842 - 1900) , sold for sixpence a copy (which was a days wages at the time !) and , at its most popular , was shifting 10,000 copies a week ! Indeed , so popular was 'The Nation' newspaper (and , in those days , so expensive) that some of its readers 'hired' the 'paper from newsvendors at one-penny an hour !
....... digressive tangents - I'm full of them !
Joseph Brenan was 19 years young (in January 1848) when he first met John Mitchel , one of the leaders of the 'Young Ireland' Movement , while both were in the city of Cork on separate business .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
"....... Jim Grey and myself were in Cork City , and in a tight spot ; Black and Tans in front and a British Army patrol in a car following us . We walked past the Tans and kept going . Then a shout - "HALT !" We walked on ......."
" The demand to 'halt' was repeated , and we heard footsteps running behind us . We stopped and looked back ; a Black and Tan was running towards us , so we walked slowly back to meet him . Jim was the nearer to him and I lagged behind . Now he stood in front of Jim with his hands out-stretched and raised slightly , in the attitude of one preparing to search : " What is your name ?" he asked Jim , who replied " Grey . " "Grey ! From where ?" " Cork Barracks ," came the answer .
Jim took a chance ; his name was 'mud' at Cork Barracks for some time , but the Black and Tans at Tuckey Street did not know that . The answer seemed to impress the Tan . Now there was another diversion - a sudden gust of wind blew off his peaked cap , and it rolled along the ground towards me . Stooping , I caught it , straightened myself up and , walking towards him with a pleasant smile , gave it to him . He was delighted ! It was not often that a Black and Tan received such courtesy . "Thank you very much indeed ," he said to me , with a smile , "I suppose you have not a gun on you ? ," he added , as raising his hands high he brought them down in a slow sweeping motion , the motion of searching or feeling for a hidden weapon .
This movement of the hands was merely a show for his comrades at the corner - he never touched my body , neither did he touch Jim . I must say he was a decent-looking man for a Black and Tan : his face showed no signs of the brutality that stamped most of them as a type . I would have been sorry for him had he rubbed us the wrong way , for we had guns on us . Our lives were forfeit anyway this long time and while , with our hands in the dog's mouth , we were willing to try out diplomacy to its fullest extent , no enemy , however strong numerically , was going to deprive us of loaded guns , and then torture and kill us at their leisure ......."
(MORE LATER).
GETTING OUT .......
'Britain has the economic clout to impose peace in Northern Ireland (sic), argue BOB ROWTHORN and NAOMI WAYNE . Why does'nt it use it ? '
(First published in 'New Statesman and Society' Magazine , 9th September , 1988 , pages 12 and 13).
Re-produced here in 10 parts .
[Apologises beforehand for the use of the descriptions "Northern Ireland" and "Province" , and the constant use of the terms "Catholics" and "Protestants" in the following ten-part article ; they are not our descriptions or terms , but the Authors].
(4 of 10).
The economy of the North is in severe crisis . In the 1950's and 1960's , the 'province' was transformed as local industry was run down and multinationals moved in to dominate its economy . But in the last 20 years this process has gone into reverse , with multinationals reducing their activities or pulling out altogether .
Only huge subsidies from the British Government keep the 'province' afloat : in 1985 , some £1,700 million Sterling in all , now (ie 1988) something approaching £2,700 million Sterling . Despite its numerous problems and high unemployment - around 18 per cent - the 'Republic' (ie-the Free State) has a much stronger economy than 'Northern Ireland' and its long-term prospects are much better (though they are by no means rosy) . Protestants fear that re-unification would bring impoverishment ; but if they co-operated in that re-unification , then peace would come rapidly , and with it the benefits of economic recovery .
If they were to fight a rearguard action , the benefits of peace would take longer to materialise . Even so , it could take some 15 to 20 years for the economy of the North to be strong enough to stand on its own feet . Continuing aid would therefore involve a significant commitment from Britain , even counting the savings from military withdrawal . In the longer run , the cost would be of course much less than that of continued involvement and would eventually come to an end ...
(MORE LATER).
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
JOSEPH BRENAN ; 1828-1857 : 'Young Ireland' Leader .......
.......'Living' in mud hovels , evictions , jobless , hungry , homeless ; that was Ireland in the 19th Century . A baby , Joseph Brenan , was born into that poverty in Cork , in November 1828.......
When he was in his early teens , Joseph Brenan helped to establish the 'Cork Historical Society' and , within a few years , was helping-out at Editorial level on the local 'Cork Magazine', which was published on a regular basis between the end of 1847 and late 1848 - those working on the 'Cork Magazine' were forced to go 'on-the-run' by the British or had been imprisoned already by them ; J D Frazer , Martin MacDermott and 'Mary of The Nation' newspaper - Ellen Mary Patrick Downing ...
... a tangent re 'The Nation' newspaper - A man called Hughes was sentenced to death at Armagh Assizes , even though it had been assumed by all who knew the details that the 'evidence' against Hughes (which itself had been invalidated by witnesses to the mans alleged 'crime') was such that a short prison sentence might be handed down ; instead , Hughes was hung .
The then Editor of 'The Belfast Vindicator' newspaper (1839-1848) , Charles Gavan Duffy , a Monaghan man (who had left 'The Northern Standard' newspaper [founded in March 1839] to work on 'The Belfast Vindicator') described Hughes' death as "legal assassination" and was prosecuted by the British Attorney-General for doing so - that was in the summer of 1842 .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
"....... Jim Grey and myself were in Cork City to purchase supplies ; we were on East Parade - and so were the Brits , in their armoured Rolls-Royce Whippet . Jim reacted immediately ......."
" " 'Monkey Mac' the spotter is in that car , " Jim said , " and he knows me as well as a bad halfpenny . We'll cross the road . " We crossed the first half of the wide Parade ; the British car was cruising along slowly , a sign that there was a 'spotter' (ie - a tout) aboard . We had to chance Tuckey Street or the Brits - we chose Tuckey Street , but there were about twenty Black and Tans at the corner ; out of the frying pan and into the fire ...
...there was a middle course at first but it ran out on us - people were walking in the middle of the street towards the Fountain , and we went with them . The Brits in the car screened us for a time , as did the gang of Black and Tans on the corner . Then both groups got the same notion , like geese - the Black and Tans moved towards us and the Brits in the car behind came closer . These fellows had nothing else in life to do now but to watch us ; without speaking , we both veered towards the Black and Tans , approaching them slant-wise , as if heading for Tuckey Street - it was the best policy , and we could hope to get away with it were it not for our appearance .
We passed in front of them and about ten yards away from them ; they said not a word until we were ten yards past them - every man of them was engaged in assessing us during our march past them . We heard them say - " That's the IRA uniform ! But why the devil should they march so brazenly towards us , and parade in front of us ? Better see all the same ..." They talked between themselves for a minute , allowing us to gain a further ten yards . Then a shout - " HALT ! " We did not stop ; The " HALT ! " warning was repeated , and we heard footsteps running behind us ....... "
(MORE LATER).
GETTING OUT .......
'Britain has the economic clout to impose peace in Northern Ireland (sic), argue BOB ROWTHORN and NAOMI WAYNE . Why does'nt it use it ? '
(First published in 'New Statesman and Society' Magazine , 9th September , 1988 , pages 12 and 13).
Re-produced here in 10 parts .
[Apologises beforehand for the use of the descriptions "Northern Ireland" and "Province" , and the constant use of the terms "Catholics" and "Protestants" in the following ten-part article ; they are not our descriptions or terms , but the Authors].
(3 of 10).
But Britain could put its economic power over 'Northern Ireland' to use in a constructive two-pronged strategy : actively using this power to undermine and divide resistance to re-unification among the Protestant community , while simultaneously offering to deploy its economic resources to shore up the new re-unified state . Britain would have to make absolutely clear its willingness to use economic sanctions against a large-scale Protestant state or any group resisting re-unification .
Such a firm approach would be enough to deter resistance from all but a handful of Protestants . At the same time , Britain would promise to continue external aid , following re-unification , until the North's economy had been rebuilt . Britain should insist that the money was spent on the North and demand satisfactory arragements for the future employment of Protestants in the new state .
This would allow living standards in the North , including those of most Protestants , to be broadly maintained , without imposing an unacceptable burden on the Southern population .......
(MORE LATER).
.......'Living' in mud hovels , evictions , jobless , hungry , homeless ; that was Ireland in the 19th Century . A baby , Joseph Brenan , was born into that poverty in Cork , in November 1828.......
When he was in his early teens , Joseph Brenan helped to establish the 'Cork Historical Society' and , within a few years , was helping-out at Editorial level on the local 'Cork Magazine', which was published on a regular basis between the end of 1847 and late 1848 - those working on the 'Cork Magazine' were forced to go 'on-the-run' by the British or had been imprisoned already by them ; J D Frazer , Martin MacDermott and 'Mary of The Nation' newspaper - Ellen Mary Patrick Downing ...
... a tangent re 'The Nation' newspaper - A man called Hughes was sentenced to death at Armagh Assizes , even though it had been assumed by all who knew the details that the 'evidence' against Hughes (which itself had been invalidated by witnesses to the mans alleged 'crime') was such that a short prison sentence might be handed down ; instead , Hughes was hung .
The then Editor of 'The Belfast Vindicator' newspaper (1839-1848) , Charles Gavan Duffy , a Monaghan man (who had left 'The Northern Standard' newspaper [founded in March 1839] to work on 'The Belfast Vindicator') described Hughes' death as "legal assassination" and was prosecuted by the British Attorney-General for doing so - that was in the summer of 1842 .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
"....... Jim Grey and myself were in Cork City to purchase supplies ; we were on East Parade - and so were the Brits , in their armoured Rolls-Royce Whippet . Jim reacted immediately ......."
" " 'Monkey Mac' the spotter is in that car , " Jim said , " and he knows me as well as a bad halfpenny . We'll cross the road . " We crossed the first half of the wide Parade ; the British car was cruising along slowly , a sign that there was a 'spotter' (ie - a tout) aboard . We had to chance Tuckey Street or the Brits - we chose Tuckey Street , but there were about twenty Black and Tans at the corner ; out of the frying pan and into the fire ...
...there was a middle course at first but it ran out on us - people were walking in the middle of the street towards the Fountain , and we went with them . The Brits in the car screened us for a time , as did the gang of Black and Tans on the corner . Then both groups got the same notion , like geese - the Black and Tans moved towards us and the Brits in the car behind came closer . These fellows had nothing else in life to do now but to watch us ; without speaking , we both veered towards the Black and Tans , approaching them slant-wise , as if heading for Tuckey Street - it was the best policy , and we could hope to get away with it were it not for our appearance .
We passed in front of them and about ten yards away from them ; they said not a word until we were ten yards past them - every man of them was engaged in assessing us during our march past them . We heard them say - " That's the IRA uniform ! But why the devil should they march so brazenly towards us , and parade in front of us ? Better see all the same ..." They talked between themselves for a minute , allowing us to gain a further ten yards . Then a shout - " HALT ! " We did not stop ; The " HALT ! " warning was repeated , and we heard footsteps running behind us ....... "
(MORE LATER).
GETTING OUT .......
'Britain has the economic clout to impose peace in Northern Ireland (sic), argue BOB ROWTHORN and NAOMI WAYNE . Why does'nt it use it ? '
(First published in 'New Statesman and Society' Magazine , 9th September , 1988 , pages 12 and 13).
Re-produced here in 10 parts .
[Apologises beforehand for the use of the descriptions "Northern Ireland" and "Province" , and the constant use of the terms "Catholics" and "Protestants" in the following ten-part article ; they are not our descriptions or terms , but the Authors].
(3 of 10).
But Britain could put its economic power over 'Northern Ireland' to use in a constructive two-pronged strategy : actively using this power to undermine and divide resistance to re-unification among the Protestant community , while simultaneously offering to deploy its economic resources to shore up the new re-unified state . Britain would have to make absolutely clear its willingness to use economic sanctions against a large-scale Protestant state or any group resisting re-unification .
Such a firm approach would be enough to deter resistance from all but a handful of Protestants . At the same time , Britain would promise to continue external aid , following re-unification , until the North's economy had been rebuilt . Britain should insist that the money was spent on the North and demand satisfactory arragements for the future employment of Protestants in the new state .
This would allow living standards in the North , including those of most Protestants , to be broadly maintained , without imposing an unacceptable burden on the Southern population .......
(MORE LATER).
Monday, May 31, 2004
JOSEPH BRENAN ; 1828-1857 : 'Young Ireland' Leader .......
....... Ireland , 19th Century - evictions were common-place : the hovel where the family of Matthais McGrath 'lived' , in County Clare , was under siege by the British Sheriff , but the McGrath's were fighting back .......
The British Sheriff and his men had used the battering-ram to get into the McGrath hovel , and a fight started between those in the hovel and those wanting to evict them ...
' The poor fellow , McGrath , had a severe wound on the crown of his head , and was kicked twice in the chest . The wrecking of the 'house' was then proceeded with and complete ; Colonel Turner stopped the work of the battering-ram , smiling pleasantly , and had the emergency ruffians to stand at ease for the accommodation of an amateur photographer to take a sketch of the ruined cottage .
Continuing operations , the 'house' was left a complete ruin before the villains ceased their work . A 'Coercion Court' was improvised formally to try Pat McGrath , with 'Removable Roche' taking the Justice Seat on a stone wall . The formality being gone through , McGrath was removed in custody . ' That report of an eviction was published in 'The United Ireland' newspaper , on 4th August , 1888 . Again - all of us have to answer to our God one day ...
Jobless , hungry , homeless- not given the chance to provide for yourself or your family ; and no means to achieve the opportunity to improve your situation , or even stop it from getting worse - hopeless times . It was in this era that Joseph Brenan was born , in Cork , in November 1828.......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
".......The Strickland job was off ; myself and Jim Grey got a lift in a milk-cart into Cork City for shopping supplies . We should have changed our clothes ......."
" " You might have shaved yourself at least , " I remonstrated with Jim . " Even if you had shaved a week ago , " I added . " You're wrong , " said Jim - " I will pass as a benevolent old toff . It is YOU whom they will be after . Let me quote the 'Hue and Cry' (a Brit propaganda 'newspaper') for you : 'WANTED - Clean-shaven youth, blue eyes , fair hair , tall , fanatical appearance . Dangerous young criminal . '
" Wait a bit , " I said . " Here's your description : 'WANTED - Young man , hardened appearance , blue eyes , fair hair , tall , desperate character , unshaven - forgot razor at scene of last murder . " So we joked until we parted with our milk-cart not far from Cork City Hall . We walked over Parnell Bridge and turned left along the South Mall ; as we crossed the street from the Mall to the South Gate Bridge I thought of yesterday morning , when we passed over the same ground with our four comrades in the Buick , with the Lewis-Gun , our rifles and grenades .
Now we were reduced in numbers , our good car and armaments lacking . Besides , our position was further weakened by our attire - it cried out for attention from the enemy . We had not met them yet , but had not long to wait : we crossed from the southern side of the Mall to the eastern side of the Parade - this we did to avoid Tuckey Street corner . In any case it was a short-cut . No sooner were we on the foot-path than we saw a Rolls-Royce Whippet armoured car - the Brits ! They were bearing-down on us on our side ; Jim reacted immediately ......."
(MORE LATER).
GETTING OUT .......
'Britain has the economic clout to impose peace in Northern Ireland (sic), argue BOB ROWTHORN and NAOMI WAYNE . Why does'nt it use it ? '
(First published in 'New Statesman and Society' Magazine , 9th September , 1988 , pages 12 and 13).
Re-produced here in 10 parts .
[Apologises beforehand for the use of the descriptions "Northern Ireland" and "Province" , and the constant use of the terms "Catholics" and "Protestants" in the following ten-part article ; they are not our descriptions or terms , but the Authors].
(2 of 10).
Given that nothing else will work , it is surely time to re-examine the traditional solution to the Northern Ireland (sic) conflict . Should not Britain withdraw from the province (sic), re-unite Ireland and reverse the historic mistake of partition ? Nowadays (ie 1988) , this course receives no serious consideration at all from the political establishment , even though opinion polls show that it commands consistent majority support among the British electorate .
If it is raised at all , it is usually to be dismissed out of hand as utterly impractical , morally irresponsible and politically unacceptable . In fact , the outcome of withdrawal is'nt predetermined , but would depend crucially on the way the decision was carried through . The key is not military , but economic ; Northern Ireland's (sic) economy is overwhelmingly dependent on Britain - without its economic support , the 'province' could not survive on its own for more than a few weeks .
So if Britain were , in Pontius Pilate fashion , simply to wash its hands and abandon 'Northern Ireland' altogether , the result would be catastrophic . Its already bankrupt economy would finally disintegrate and civil war would be a real possibility ...
(MORE LATER).
....... Ireland , 19th Century - evictions were common-place : the hovel where the family of Matthais McGrath 'lived' , in County Clare , was under siege by the British Sheriff , but the McGrath's were fighting back .......
The British Sheriff and his men had used the battering-ram to get into the McGrath hovel , and a fight started between those in the hovel and those wanting to evict them ...
' The poor fellow , McGrath , had a severe wound on the crown of his head , and was kicked twice in the chest . The wrecking of the 'house' was then proceeded with and complete ; Colonel Turner stopped the work of the battering-ram , smiling pleasantly , and had the emergency ruffians to stand at ease for the accommodation of an amateur photographer to take a sketch of the ruined cottage .
Continuing operations , the 'house' was left a complete ruin before the villains ceased their work . A 'Coercion Court' was improvised formally to try Pat McGrath , with 'Removable Roche' taking the Justice Seat on a stone wall . The formality being gone through , McGrath was removed in custody . ' That report of an eviction was published in 'The United Ireland' newspaper , on 4th August , 1888 . Again - all of us have to answer to our God one day ...
Jobless , hungry , homeless- not given the chance to provide for yourself or your family ; and no means to achieve the opportunity to improve your situation , or even stop it from getting worse - hopeless times . It was in this era that Joseph Brenan was born , in Cork , in November 1828.......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
".......The Strickland job was off ; myself and Jim Grey got a lift in a milk-cart into Cork City for shopping supplies . We should have changed our clothes ......."
" " You might have shaved yourself at least , " I remonstrated with Jim . " Even if you had shaved a week ago , " I added . " You're wrong , " said Jim - " I will pass as a benevolent old toff . It is YOU whom they will be after . Let me quote the 'Hue and Cry' (a Brit propaganda 'newspaper') for you : 'WANTED - Clean-shaven youth, blue eyes , fair hair , tall , fanatical appearance . Dangerous young criminal . '
" Wait a bit , " I said . " Here's your description : 'WANTED - Young man , hardened appearance , blue eyes , fair hair , tall , desperate character , unshaven - forgot razor at scene of last murder . " So we joked until we parted with our milk-cart not far from Cork City Hall . We walked over Parnell Bridge and turned left along the South Mall ; as we crossed the street from the Mall to the South Gate Bridge I thought of yesterday morning , when we passed over the same ground with our four comrades in the Buick , with the Lewis-Gun , our rifles and grenades .
Now we were reduced in numbers , our good car and armaments lacking . Besides , our position was further weakened by our attire - it cried out for attention from the enemy . We had not met them yet , but had not long to wait : we crossed from the southern side of the Mall to the eastern side of the Parade - this we did to avoid Tuckey Street corner . In any case it was a short-cut . No sooner were we on the foot-path than we saw a Rolls-Royce Whippet armoured car - the Brits ! They were bearing-down on us on our side ; Jim reacted immediately ......."
(MORE LATER).
GETTING OUT .......
'Britain has the economic clout to impose peace in Northern Ireland (sic), argue BOB ROWTHORN and NAOMI WAYNE . Why does'nt it use it ? '
(First published in 'New Statesman and Society' Magazine , 9th September , 1988 , pages 12 and 13).
Re-produced here in 10 parts .
[Apologises beforehand for the use of the descriptions "Northern Ireland" and "Province" , and the constant use of the terms "Catholics" and "Protestants" in the following ten-part article ; they are not our descriptions or terms , but the Authors].
(2 of 10).
Given that nothing else will work , it is surely time to re-examine the traditional solution to the Northern Ireland (sic) conflict . Should not Britain withdraw from the province (sic), re-unite Ireland and reverse the historic mistake of partition ? Nowadays (ie 1988) , this course receives no serious consideration at all from the political establishment , even though opinion polls show that it commands consistent majority support among the British electorate .
If it is raised at all , it is usually to be dismissed out of hand as utterly impractical , morally irresponsible and politically unacceptable . In fact , the outcome of withdrawal is'nt predetermined , but would depend crucially on the way the decision was carried through . The key is not military , but economic ; Northern Ireland's (sic) economy is overwhelmingly dependent on Britain - without its economic support , the 'province' could not survive on its own for more than a few weeks .
So if Britain were , in Pontius Pilate fashion , simply to wash its hands and abandon 'Northern Ireland' altogether , the result would be catastrophic . Its already bankrupt economy would finally disintegrate and civil war would be a real possibility ...
(MORE LATER).
Sunday, May 30, 2004
JOSEPH BRENAN ; 1828-1857 : 'Young Ireland' Leader .......
.......The Irish were living in mud hovels , 3 generations of family in one room ; the English had their fine gala-balls and sporting-days.......
'Living' in a mud-walled hovel was better than nothing , but even then the English would'nt leave us alone - if you could not pay the 'rent' to the British 'Landlord' he would rather see you and yours 'living' in a hedge and the hovel destroyed ; in that 19th Century Ireland , a British 'Landlord' by the name of Vandeleur organised the eviction of one of his 'tenants' from 'his' estate near Kilrush , in the County Clare : a newspaper of the day , the 'United Ireland' , reported on the scene -
- ' On Thursday the evictions were resumed . The eviction proceedings were carried out with the usual brutality by the sheriff , and opposed with determination and pluck by the tenants . The house of Matthais McGrath was defended with determination , the place was barricaded . The battering-ram was drawn up in front and shouts of defiance came from the tenant inside . 'Thud , Thud' , went the lever against the wall and , after a while , it yielded , but an immense barricade of stonework was inside it . Breach enough was effected to afford a view of the tenant's son bravely standing inside and determined , calling them to come on !
Inspector Dunning called on him now to come out , but young McGrath answered sternly : " I am here within , and in with you ." The battering-ram was again used and the wall came down - a violent rush was made through the breach . District-Inspector Hill led on but his charge was abruptly stopped by his coming into contact with the battering-ram and he was pitched helplessly into the kitchen , and pounced on by McGrath who pommelled him soundly , but was himself attacked by Dunning and a Constable named Atkinson from Kilrush . They assaulted McGrath together , and were soon aided by a party of 'bludgeonmen' , batoned and treated in a most savage and brutal manner .
McGrath was felled ; numbers overpowered him , and struck and kicked with savage violence .......'
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
".......We were temporarly lost in Cork City , but had trouble getting anyone to assist us - they thought we were armed Brits ! We had to grab a young man , whom Corney O'Sullivan spoke with ......."
" "Would you not like to do something for Ireland ?" , Corney asked the young man ; his eyes travelled over us all before he answered . We were amused at his confusion and our smiles reassured him - " I would, " he said boldly . He stood on the running-board and , having piloted us around a few corners , brought us out on the road we wanted . " God bless ye boys ," he exclaimed fervently as we parted .
In a short time we reached Miss Walsh's of Ballygarvan , where we were most hospitably entertained . We rested until the time for our appointment with Mick Murphy . We met him and Tadhg Sullivan at Kaper Daly's ; Tadhg was introduced to us by Mick as " the Republican Jewman ! " A splendid looking man , with laughing eyes - he had certainly a 'Semitic' expression . They had no good news for us - British Army man Strickland was to attend the funeral of General Cummins who had been killed at Clonbanin , and we were destined , therefore , not to meet him . Mick and Tadhg returned to the city - we were to meet Mick again , but it was our last meeting with Tadhg Sullivan ; within a few days we heard with the greatest sorrow of his death in an encounter with a British Army raiding-party .
Jim Grey , our driver , wanted tyres for the Buick . It was settled that he and I should go to the city in the morning to get the tyres , some 'three-in-one' oil , and a few other messages . We met a reliable man that night , who agreed to take us in his milk cart . We started early , seated facing forward and surrounded by milk-churns . We wore our trench coats and gaiters , a very foolish thing to do , since it invited attention . In the milk cart it looked the part well enough , but when we went shopping... "
(MORE LATER).
GETTING OUT .
'Britain has the economic clout to impose peace in Northern Ireland (sic), argue BOB ROWTHORN and NAOMI WAYNE . Why does'nt it use it ? '
(First published in 'New Statesman and Society' Magazine , 9th September , 1988 , pages 12 and 13).
Re-produced here in 10 parts .
[Apologises beforehand for the use of the descriptions "Northern Ireland" and "Province" , and the constant use of the terms "Catholics" and "Protestants" in the following ten-part article ; they are not our descriptions or terms , but the Authors].
(1 of 10).
The conflict in Northern Ireland (sic) won't be resolved by military means ; after nearly 20 years , the IRA has not been defeated nor , in spite of fluctuations in its level of support and occasional SAS coups , is it going to be . Hostility to British rule remains widespread in the Catholic community and will continue to provide support for the armed struggle .
Reform within the present framework is also played out . The Anglo-Irish Agreement (ie- the 1985 Hillsborough Treaty) has posed a bigger challenge to the Protestant and Catholic communities than any previous initiative , but to win the long-term commitment of the Catholic community , the Agreement must deliver substantial material benefits - most notably , the creation of more and better jobs .
But realistically that depends on an economic recovery which cannot itself be achieved as long as the present conflict continues . Moreover , questions of national identity and political control cannot have been high on the political agenda for Catholics for two decades . This is too long for them to go away ; they now have a life of their own...
(MORE LATER).
.......The Irish were living in mud hovels , 3 generations of family in one room ; the English had their fine gala-balls and sporting-days.......
'Living' in a mud-walled hovel was better than nothing , but even then the English would'nt leave us alone - if you could not pay the 'rent' to the British 'Landlord' he would rather see you and yours 'living' in a hedge and the hovel destroyed ; in that 19th Century Ireland , a British 'Landlord' by the name of Vandeleur organised the eviction of one of his 'tenants' from 'his' estate near Kilrush , in the County Clare : a newspaper of the day , the 'United Ireland' , reported on the scene -
- ' On Thursday the evictions were resumed . The eviction proceedings were carried out with the usual brutality by the sheriff , and opposed with determination and pluck by the tenants . The house of Matthais McGrath was defended with determination , the place was barricaded . The battering-ram was drawn up in front and shouts of defiance came from the tenant inside . 'Thud , Thud' , went the lever against the wall and , after a while , it yielded , but an immense barricade of stonework was inside it . Breach enough was effected to afford a view of the tenant's son bravely standing inside and determined , calling them to come on !
Inspector Dunning called on him now to come out , but young McGrath answered sternly : " I am here within , and in with you ." The battering-ram was again used and the wall came down - a violent rush was made through the breach . District-Inspector Hill led on but his charge was abruptly stopped by his coming into contact with the battering-ram and he was pitched helplessly into the kitchen , and pounced on by McGrath who pommelled him soundly , but was himself attacked by Dunning and a Constable named Atkinson from Kilrush . They assaulted McGrath together , and were soon aided by a party of 'bludgeonmen' , batoned and treated in a most savage and brutal manner .
McGrath was felled ; numbers overpowered him , and struck and kicked with savage violence .......'
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
".......We were temporarly lost in Cork City , but had trouble getting anyone to assist us - they thought we were armed Brits ! We had to grab a young man , whom Corney O'Sullivan spoke with ......."
" "Would you not like to do something for Ireland ?" , Corney asked the young man ; his eyes travelled over us all before he answered . We were amused at his confusion and our smiles reassured him - " I would, " he said boldly . He stood on the running-board and , having piloted us around a few corners , brought us out on the road we wanted . " God bless ye boys ," he exclaimed fervently as we parted .
In a short time we reached Miss Walsh's of Ballygarvan , where we were most hospitably entertained . We rested until the time for our appointment with Mick Murphy . We met him and Tadhg Sullivan at Kaper Daly's ; Tadhg was introduced to us by Mick as " the Republican Jewman ! " A splendid looking man , with laughing eyes - he had certainly a 'Semitic' expression . They had no good news for us - British Army man Strickland was to attend the funeral of General Cummins who had been killed at Clonbanin , and we were destined , therefore , not to meet him . Mick and Tadhg returned to the city - we were to meet Mick again , but it was our last meeting with Tadhg Sullivan ; within a few days we heard with the greatest sorrow of his death in an encounter with a British Army raiding-party .
Jim Grey , our driver , wanted tyres for the Buick . It was settled that he and I should go to the city in the morning to get the tyres , some 'three-in-one' oil , and a few other messages . We met a reliable man that night , who agreed to take us in his milk cart . We started early , seated facing forward and surrounded by milk-churns . We wore our trench coats and gaiters , a very foolish thing to do , since it invited attention . In the milk cart it looked the part well enough , but when we went shopping... "
(MORE LATER).
GETTING OUT .
'Britain has the economic clout to impose peace in Northern Ireland (sic), argue BOB ROWTHORN and NAOMI WAYNE . Why does'nt it use it ? '
(First published in 'New Statesman and Society' Magazine , 9th September , 1988 , pages 12 and 13).
Re-produced here in 10 parts .
[Apologises beforehand for the use of the descriptions "Northern Ireland" and "Province" , and the constant use of the terms "Catholics" and "Protestants" in the following ten-part article ; they are not our descriptions or terms , but the Authors].
(1 of 10).
The conflict in Northern Ireland (sic) won't be resolved by military means ; after nearly 20 years , the IRA has not been defeated nor , in spite of fluctuations in its level of support and occasional SAS coups , is it going to be . Hostility to British rule remains widespread in the Catholic community and will continue to provide support for the armed struggle .
Reform within the present framework is also played out . The Anglo-Irish Agreement (ie- the 1985 Hillsborough Treaty) has posed a bigger challenge to the Protestant and Catholic communities than any previous initiative , but to win the long-term commitment of the Catholic community , the Agreement must deliver substantial material benefits - most notably , the creation of more and better jobs .
But realistically that depends on an economic recovery which cannot itself be achieved as long as the present conflict continues . Moreover , questions of national identity and political control cannot have been high on the political agenda for Catholics for two decades . This is too long for them to go away ; they now have a life of their own...
(MORE LATER).
Saturday, May 29, 2004
JOSEPH BRENAN ; 1828-1857 : 'Young Ireland' Leader .......
Joseph Brenan was born into Daniel O'Connell's time ; huge crowds attended meetings of 'The Catholic Association' , and one eye-witness gave the following account .......
" The whole district was covered with people . The population within a days march began to arrive on foot shortly after daybreak and continued to arrive , on all sides and by every available approach , 'till noon . It was impossible from any one point to see the entire meeting - the number is supposed to have reached between 500,000 and 700,000 persons ."
The population was upset ; they had to contend with hunger , evictions and early death . They were living like animals - a visitor from France , Gustav de Beaumont , described the conditions that Joseph Brenan , too, would have seen in Ireland at that time (ie the early 19th Century) -
- " Imagine four walls of dried mud , which the rain , as it falls, easily restores to its primitive condition , having for its roof a little straw of some sods , for its chimney a hole cut in the roof , or very frequently the door through which alone the smoke finds an issue . One single appartment (sic ?) contains father , mother , children and sometimes a grandfather or grandmother ; there is no furniture in this wretched hovel - a single bed of straw serves the entire family .
Five or six half-naked children may be seen crouched near a miserable fire , the ashes of which cover a few potatoes , the sole nourishment of the whole family . "
The English 'Establishment' and their 'Landlord' puppets had their fine gala-balls and sporting-days , while the Irish 'lived' in " wretched hovels ...". However - we all of us have to answer to our God one day .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
".......If left alone , we would pass as a mixture of Black and Tans and Auxiliaries and we all struck a superior posture in the car , as they do . We were ready to engage them if we had to , but they were not our target this day ......."
" We were now in Washington Street , Cork , and soon we could see to the end of it . We watched the junction with Main Street - all clear , but what would the Grand Parade reveal ? We swept gracefully into it in a right hand quarter-circle , while our eyes instinctively swept from Patrick Street corner to the Mall , noting particularly Tuckey Street corner . Soon we were past that abode of a vile mix - RIC and Black and Tans . Turning left , we were in the South Mall ; a few hundred yards , and we turned right over Parliament Bridge , across the south channel of the River Lee .
Crossing the quay , we went up Barrack Street and past Cat Fort Gate , where a Black and Tan sentry stood with sloped rifle . He brought his right hand across to the small of the butt , then down smartly to his side - a salute for us ! The first half of it looked bad , but good manners carry one a long way ; a few of us returned the salute wearily ! Some little time after passing by Cat Fort , we over-ran our road to the left - there was some doubt as to where the next road to the left led , and we decided to enquire . This proved to be more troublesome than we expected : we could see people approaching us as if hurrying to work , yet they never reached us . They turned in a doorway or a gateway or a street , so we rushed to the corner of the street to shout after them but they had vanished !
We felt that we were not popular . At length we chased a young man going in our own direction , and grabbed him as he turned in a wicket-gate - he was frightened , but would tell us nothing ......."
(MORE LATER).
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .......
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
[7 of 7].
In the next election , in 1981 , the 'Workers Party' , formed ten years earlier out of a split in Sinn Fein , won a seat in the Dail (sic- Leinster House) after three attempts in the three previous elections . In 1982 it won three seats , with 2.3 per cent of the vote , but lost one in the subsequent election , though its share of the vote remained almost the same .
The only other small party to have won seats in the Dail (sic) is Sinn Fein , which contested the 1957 election on an abstentionist platform and won four seats ; it lost them all in 1961 , and did not contest another election until 20 years later , in 1981 , when it was heavily involved in the election campaigns of the H-Block prisoners who ran to highlight the Hunger-Strike .
Of obvious necessity , they ran on an abstentionist platform and two of the Republican prisoners , Paddy Agnew and Kieran Doherty , were elected ; Doherty died on Hunger-Strike , and Paddy Agnew did not run in 1982 .
[END of -'BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD...'].
(Tomorrow - 'GETTING OUT' ; from 'New Statesman and Society' magazine , 1988).
Joseph Brenan was born into Daniel O'Connell's time ; huge crowds attended meetings of 'The Catholic Association' , and one eye-witness gave the following account .......
" The whole district was covered with people . The population within a days march began to arrive on foot shortly after daybreak and continued to arrive , on all sides and by every available approach , 'till noon . It was impossible from any one point to see the entire meeting - the number is supposed to have reached between 500,000 and 700,000 persons ."
The population was upset ; they had to contend with hunger , evictions and early death . They were living like animals - a visitor from France , Gustav de Beaumont , described the conditions that Joseph Brenan , too, would have seen in Ireland at that time (ie the early 19th Century) -
- " Imagine four walls of dried mud , which the rain , as it falls, easily restores to its primitive condition , having for its roof a little straw of some sods , for its chimney a hole cut in the roof , or very frequently the door through which alone the smoke finds an issue . One single appartment (sic ?) contains father , mother , children and sometimes a grandfather or grandmother ; there is no furniture in this wretched hovel - a single bed of straw serves the entire family .
Five or six half-naked children may be seen crouched near a miserable fire , the ashes of which cover a few potatoes , the sole nourishment of the whole family . "
The English 'Establishment' and their 'Landlord' puppets had their fine gala-balls and sporting-days , while the Irish 'lived' in " wretched hovels ...". However - we all of us have to answer to our God one day .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
".......If left alone , we would pass as a mixture of Black and Tans and Auxiliaries and we all struck a superior posture in the car , as they do . We were ready to engage them if we had to , but they were not our target this day ......."
" We were now in Washington Street , Cork , and soon we could see to the end of it . We watched the junction with Main Street - all clear , but what would the Grand Parade reveal ? We swept gracefully into it in a right hand quarter-circle , while our eyes instinctively swept from Patrick Street corner to the Mall , noting particularly Tuckey Street corner . Soon we were past that abode of a vile mix - RIC and Black and Tans . Turning left , we were in the South Mall ; a few hundred yards , and we turned right over Parliament Bridge , across the south channel of the River Lee .
Crossing the quay , we went up Barrack Street and past Cat Fort Gate , where a Black and Tan sentry stood with sloped rifle . He brought his right hand across to the small of the butt , then down smartly to his side - a salute for us ! The first half of it looked bad , but good manners carry one a long way ; a few of us returned the salute wearily ! Some little time after passing by Cat Fort , we over-ran our road to the left - there was some doubt as to where the next road to the left led , and we decided to enquire . This proved to be more troublesome than we expected : we could see people approaching us as if hurrying to work , yet they never reached us . They turned in a doorway or a gateway or a street , so we rushed to the corner of the street to shout after them but they had vanished !
We felt that we were not popular . At length we chased a young man going in our own direction , and grabbed him as he turned in a wicket-gate - he was frightened , but would tell us nothing ......."
(MORE LATER).
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .......
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
[7 of 7].
In the next election , in 1981 , the 'Workers Party' , formed ten years earlier out of a split in Sinn Fein , won a seat in the Dail (sic- Leinster House) after three attempts in the three previous elections . In 1982 it won three seats , with 2.3 per cent of the vote , but lost one in the subsequent election , though its share of the vote remained almost the same .
The only other small party to have won seats in the Dail (sic) is Sinn Fein , which contested the 1957 election on an abstentionist platform and won four seats ; it lost them all in 1961 , and did not contest another election until 20 years later , in 1981 , when it was heavily involved in the election campaigns of the H-Block prisoners who ran to highlight the Hunger-Strike .
Of obvious necessity , they ran on an abstentionist platform and two of the Republican prisoners , Paddy Agnew and Kieran Doherty , were elected ; Doherty died on Hunger-Strike , and Paddy Agnew did not run in 1982 .
[END of -'BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD...'].
(Tomorrow - 'GETTING OUT' ; from 'New Statesman and Society' magazine , 1988).
Friday, May 28, 2004
JOSEPH BRENAN ; 1828-1857 : 'Young Ireland' Leader .
Ireland , 1828 ; twenty-one months after the subject of our previous article , Philip Grey , was born in Dublin , a baby was born in Cork (ie in November 1828) - Joseph Brenan . He , too, was born when Daniel O'Connell's star was burning brightly - O'Connell had organised the Irish 'peasantry' (as Westminster referred to them) into what was , in all intent and purpose , a political party .
As stated in the previous article , the Catholic Church was in support of 'The Catholic Association' and allowed (indeed , encouraged) its Priests to act not only as that organisations 'spiritual advisers' , but also as political activists !
British mis-rule was reflected in the general state of unrest throughout the country - huge crowds attended 'Association' meetings , with one eye-witness account of the time stating - " The whole district was covered with people ......."
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
".......Our mission took us through Coolea , Ballyvourney and Liscarragane ; we thought of old heros - Canon O'Leary and Art O'Laoghaire - we were now on the Donoughmore-Blarney-Cork road......."
" For a time we enjoyed the long straight stretches where we could see well ahead of us ; for there was the possibility of meeting with a strong British Army raiding-party of many lorries . That would be their time for such a job - should they come , we would have time to stop and take up defensive positions . But , leaving the Blarney highway , we did not appreciate the lovely woodland road which changed direction so often .
However , we met no enemy and reached St. Ann's safely ; on then to the Kerry Pike where one of our lads stopped to see his mother . Estimating that our time would now be right , without a further stop , we dropped down to the Asylum Road , and got to the end of it without incident ; we crossed the bridge over the northern branch of the Lee . A run of a few hundred yards , and we were moving at a smart pace down the Western Road .
Safety catches were 'off'. There was to be no delay in case of an attempt to interfere with us ; any enemy agents we met who took us for friends were to be given the benefit of the mistake , and we should hope to maintain that relation for some time . Although we were ready for instant action , and the Lewis-Gun and rifles were plain to be seen , we reclined apparently at ease as befitted British Auxiliaries of the better-off class - not those fellows who sat stiffly on hard seats on their Crossley Tenders ......."
(MORE LATER).
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .......
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
(6 of 7).
Neil Blaney adopted a different course , describing the group around him as 'Independent Fianna Fail', and appearing as an independent in all the results . Although there were other candidates on this ticket , none of them was ever elected .
In 1977 there was another attempt to form a radical party , again involving Noel Browne : he and a number of prominent Labour Party members split to form the Social Labour Party , with Browne as its only TD (sic - Leinster House member).
Quite soon , however , differences emerged between him and other leading members , and when he left Leinster House , the party collapsed .......
(MORE LATER).
Ireland , 1828 ; twenty-one months after the subject of our previous article , Philip Grey , was born in Dublin , a baby was born in Cork (ie in November 1828) - Joseph Brenan . He , too, was born when Daniel O'Connell's star was burning brightly - O'Connell had organised the Irish 'peasantry' (as Westminster referred to them) into what was , in all intent and purpose , a political party .
As stated in the previous article , the Catholic Church was in support of 'The Catholic Association' and allowed (indeed , encouraged) its Priests to act not only as that organisations 'spiritual advisers' , but also as political activists !
British mis-rule was reflected in the general state of unrest throughout the country - huge crowds attended 'Association' meetings , with one eye-witness account of the time stating - " The whole district was covered with people ......."
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
".......Our mission took us through Coolea , Ballyvourney and Liscarragane ; we thought of old heros - Canon O'Leary and Art O'Laoghaire - we were now on the Donoughmore-Blarney-Cork road......."
" For a time we enjoyed the long straight stretches where we could see well ahead of us ; for there was the possibility of meeting with a strong British Army raiding-party of many lorries . That would be their time for such a job - should they come , we would have time to stop and take up defensive positions . But , leaving the Blarney highway , we did not appreciate the lovely woodland road which changed direction so often .
However , we met no enemy and reached St. Ann's safely ; on then to the Kerry Pike where one of our lads stopped to see his mother . Estimating that our time would now be right , without a further stop , we dropped down to the Asylum Road , and got to the end of it without incident ; we crossed the bridge over the northern branch of the Lee . A run of a few hundred yards , and we were moving at a smart pace down the Western Road .
Safety catches were 'off'. There was to be no delay in case of an attempt to interfere with us ; any enemy agents we met who took us for friends were to be given the benefit of the mistake , and we should hope to maintain that relation for some time . Although we were ready for instant action , and the Lewis-Gun and rifles were plain to be seen , we reclined apparently at ease as befitted British Auxiliaries of the better-off class - not those fellows who sat stiffly on hard seats on their Crossley Tenders ......."
(MORE LATER).
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .......
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
(6 of 7).
Neil Blaney adopted a different course , describing the group around him as 'Independent Fianna Fail', and appearing as an independent in all the results . Although there were other candidates on this ticket , none of them was ever elected .
In 1977 there was another attempt to form a radical party , again involving Noel Browne : he and a number of prominent Labour Party members split to form the Social Labour Party , with Browne as its only TD (sic - Leinster House member).
Quite soon , however , differences emerged between him and other leading members , and when he left Leinster House , the party collapsed .......
(MORE LATER).
Thursday, May 27, 2004
PHILIP GREY ; 1827 - 1857 : AN IRISH MILITARY MAN.......
.......Following the collapse of the Rebel Rising in 1849 (in the Tipperary / Waterford area), Philip Grey made his way to Dublin .......
Although young in years (he was only 22) Philip Grey must have been physically and mentally exhausted - trying to organise men and women into an armed force to hit back against the English , while those same men and women were watching each other , and their children and family "dropping into their graves" must have aged Philip Grey in mind and body ; he died in Dublin on 28th February , 1857 , at 30 years of age , having dedicated the last ten years (ie 1847-1857) of his short life to the Irish Republican Cause.
His name would probably mean nothing to most Irish people today ; we found no mention of the man in three of the reference books we consulted - another 'forgotten hero' , with whom we are proud to be associated .......
[END of 'PHILIP GREY ; 1827 - 1857 : AN IRISH MILITARY MAN'].
(Tomorrow - 'Joseph Brenan ; 1828-1857 : 'Young Ireland' Leader.').
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
".......Our driver , Jim Grey , always started an operation with the one saying - by telling us how he felt . And he always felt the same way .......!"
" Jim Grey took his place at the wheel of the Buick . Sean Murray sat next to him , then Hughie with the Lewis-Gun resting on the windscreen frame . In the back seat Corney sat immediately behind Jim Grey , with Dan Donovan ('Sandow') in the middle , behind Sean Murray . I sat behind Hughie . On the floor at my feet were the Lewis ammunition drums in their carriers . The car stood in the light from the house , and with its own lights burning ; our driver , Jim Grey , got out and walked around the Buick for a final inspection of tyres . Then he took his place again and , grasping the steering-wheel , said with emphasis - " Well , h'anam an dial , lads , but I'm terribly windy ! " A mighty burst of laughter greeted the pronouncement , and in its heartening atmosphere the grey car slipped quietly away ...
We travelled with lights on dim as a rule ; only in certain valleys were the headlamps used , screened by the hills from enemy posts . At that time if you met a car on the road you could be certain it contained the enemy , for no other was allowed by them to travel . Thus , when we travelled and met people on the road , we passed as Black and Tans or Auxiliaries , which put us in some danger from our own people . There was always the chance that some enterprising IRA man might , like Nelson , put his 'blind eye' to the telescope and his good eye on us ! Otherwise , it generally served us well to be mistaken for the enemy . We passed quietly through Coolea and Ballyvourney , and for a short distance along the road to Macroom . Then by quiet roads through Liscarragane , where the great Canon O'Leary (an t-Ahair Peadar) was born . We passed the door where he stood , as a ragged little boy of eight , to watch
and faithfully record the ghastly procession of the Famine .
Then , a few miles more, and we were at Carraig an Ime , where fell the gallant Art O Laoghaire fighting alone against the English . From Carraig an Ime through Ballinagree and Rylane to Donoughmore our journey was uneventful , but tiring on our driver , especially since lights had to be used sparingly . At Donoughmore we were entertained by the Sixth Battalion IRA , and we rested until dawn ; we had time to spare , as we had to wait until the British curfew patrols and armoured cars were withdrawn at 7.30 a.m. We had breakfast and we started off on the Donoughmore-Blaney-Cork road ......."
(MORE LATER).
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .......
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
(5 of 7).
During the rest of the 1960's , only the three main parties - Fianna Fail , Fine Gael and Labour - were represented in the Dail (sic- Leinster House). Then the 'Arms Trial' produced a crisis in Fianna Fail and the beginnings of two further parties . The first of these was Aontacht Eireann , formed by Kevin Boland in 1971 ; he was joined by Sean Sherwin and Captain James Kelly , one of the key figures in the 'Arms Trial' .
But Sean Sherwin failed to retain his seat in 1973 , and in 1976 Kevin Boland resigned as leader and the party folded . Neil Blaney adopted a different course of action .......
(MORE LATER).
.......Following the collapse of the Rebel Rising in 1849 (in the Tipperary / Waterford area), Philip Grey made his way to Dublin .......
Although young in years (he was only 22) Philip Grey must have been physically and mentally exhausted - trying to organise men and women into an armed force to hit back against the English , while those same men and women were watching each other , and their children and family "dropping into their graves" must have aged Philip Grey in mind and body ; he died in Dublin on 28th February , 1857 , at 30 years of age , having dedicated the last ten years (ie 1847-1857) of his short life to the Irish Republican Cause.
His name would probably mean nothing to most Irish people today ; we found no mention of the man in three of the reference books we consulted - another 'forgotten hero' , with whom we are proud to be associated .......
[END of 'PHILIP GREY ; 1827 - 1857 : AN IRISH MILITARY MAN'].
(Tomorrow - 'Joseph Brenan ; 1828-1857 : 'Young Ireland' Leader.').
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
".......Our driver , Jim Grey , always started an operation with the one saying - by telling us how he felt . And he always felt the same way .......!"
" Jim Grey took his place at the wheel of the Buick . Sean Murray sat next to him , then Hughie with the Lewis-Gun resting on the windscreen frame . In the back seat Corney sat immediately behind Jim Grey , with Dan Donovan ('Sandow') in the middle , behind Sean Murray . I sat behind Hughie . On the floor at my feet were the Lewis ammunition drums in their carriers . The car stood in the light from the house , and with its own lights burning ; our driver , Jim Grey , got out and walked around the Buick for a final inspection of tyres . Then he took his place again and , grasping the steering-wheel , said with emphasis - " Well , h'anam an dial , lads , but I'm terribly windy ! " A mighty burst of laughter greeted the pronouncement , and in its heartening atmosphere the grey car slipped quietly away ...
We travelled with lights on dim as a rule ; only in certain valleys were the headlamps used , screened by the hills from enemy posts . At that time if you met a car on the road you could be certain it contained the enemy , for no other was allowed by them to travel . Thus , when we travelled and met people on the road , we passed as Black and Tans or Auxiliaries , which put us in some danger from our own people . There was always the chance that some enterprising IRA man might , like Nelson , put his 'blind eye' to the telescope and his good eye on us ! Otherwise , it generally served us well to be mistaken for the enemy . We passed quietly through Coolea and Ballyvourney , and for a short distance along the road to Macroom . Then by quiet roads through Liscarragane , where the great Canon O'Leary (an t-Ahair Peadar) was born . We passed the door where he stood , as a ragged little boy of eight , to watch
and faithfully record the ghastly procession of the Famine .
Then , a few miles more, and we were at Carraig an Ime , where fell the gallant Art O Laoghaire fighting alone against the English . From Carraig an Ime through Ballinagree and Rylane to Donoughmore our journey was uneventful , but tiring on our driver , especially since lights had to be used sparingly . At Donoughmore we were entertained by the Sixth Battalion IRA , and we rested until dawn ; we had time to spare , as we had to wait until the British curfew patrols and armoured cars were withdrawn at 7.30 a.m. We had breakfast and we started off on the Donoughmore-Blaney-Cork road ......."
(MORE LATER).
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .......
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
(5 of 7).
During the rest of the 1960's , only the three main parties - Fianna Fail , Fine Gael and Labour - were represented in the Dail (sic- Leinster House). Then the 'Arms Trial' produced a crisis in Fianna Fail and the beginnings of two further parties . The first of these was Aontacht Eireann , formed by Kevin Boland in 1971 ; he was joined by Sean Sherwin and Captain James Kelly , one of the key figures in the 'Arms Trial' .
But Sean Sherwin failed to retain his seat in 1973 , and in 1976 Kevin Boland resigned as leader and the party folded . Neil Blaney adopted a different course of action .......
(MORE LATER).
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
PHILIP GREY ; 1827 - 1857 : AN IRISH MILITARY MAN.......
....... Ireland 1849 - Philip Grey was surviving in tough times ; starvation , people hoping for death to relieve their suffering (and the rodents to feast on them , as the dead were left lying where they fell) . Those that could help were asked by their own people to do so .......
One of those not directly effected by 'The Great Hunger' and its accompanying diseases was a certain Protestant clergyman (name not known to this scribbler) who wrote to the then British Prime Minister , 'Lord' John Russell (Russell replaced Robert Peel in that position in June 1846)-
- " My Lord - I have a right to speak for I am a Minister of God . Let me then importune and implore you , my Lord , to stand in the breach between the living and the dead . Tell the assembled Parliament that the people must not any more be left to die . " The good Reverend got his answer from Mr. 'Lord' Russell (May 1849 , British House of 'Commons') -
- " I do not think any effort of this House would , in the present unfortunate state of Ireland , be capable of preventing the dreadful scenes of suffering and death that are now occurring in Ireland . I distinctly repeat that I do not believe it is in the power of this House to do so . I do not feel justified in asking the House for an additional advance of £100,000 which at least would be necessary if the House should say there should be no possible cause of starvation in Ireland . "
Callous bastard .
However , I digress - in September 1849 , Philip Grey , 22 years of age , arrived in Dublin following the collapse of the proposed Rising in the Tipperary / Waterford area , and settled in the town.......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
"....... March 1921 ; we had been told that a British Army patrol would be on the river in two days time - a plan of attack was put together , and travel arrangements made ......."
" The Buick Tourer was a silent and powerful car that Jim Grey maintained at its original efficiency - we had no fears on that score . Neither had anyone any fears as regards the driving ; Jim himself always proclaimed that he was in mortal terror of coming events - " Glory be to God , lads ," he would exclaim piously , " I'm terribly windy . " This was treated as a standard joke , and now we waited for it as the finale to our preparations !
The car-hood was lowered and strapped down , the top half of the windscreen was removed and a rectangular piece of plate glass was cut and removed from the corner of the lower half , remote from the driver - this was done to provide a convenient rest for the Lewis-Gun when facing forward . Tea was announced , and we adjourned to the house . After grub , night had fallen , which was our best ally . Without its aid , the weak could hardly hope to fight or resist the strong . Now under its friendly cover , we were about to move nearer to the enemy .
Fully armed , we took our places in the Buick . Most of the IRA Column stood around to wish us God speed , and I also suspect , to listen to our drivers usual valedictory ......."
(MORE LATER).
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .......
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
(4 of 7).
In 1954 , Clann na Poblachta won three seats , but a smaller share of the poll (3.8 per cent). In 1957 , the party got 1.7 per cent of the vote and one seat , and this remained its representation in the Dail (sic- Leinster House) until it was wound-up in 1965 .
The 1940's also saw a split in the Labour Party vote : in 1944 , the 'Irish Transport And General Workers Union' (ITGWU - now known as SIPTU) split from the Labour Party over the latter's relationship with Big Jim Larkin , bringing five TD's (sic- Leinster House members) with it to form the 'National Labour Party' .
The 'National Labour Party' won four seats in the 1944 election , and five in 1948 , when it too joined the first inter-party (Free State) government . In that Administration , it re-united with the Labour Party in 1950 . The split between Noel Browne and Sean MacBride in Clann na Poblachta brought with it the seeds of yet another political party , though these did not come to fruition until 1961 .
In that year (1961) Noel Browne , along with Jack McQuillan , formed the 'National Progressive Democrats' . They fought the General Election and got only 1 per cent of the vote , but it brought two seats . In 1963 , they joined the Labour Party .......
(MORE LATER).
....... Ireland 1849 - Philip Grey was surviving in tough times ; starvation , people hoping for death to relieve their suffering (and the rodents to feast on them , as the dead were left lying where they fell) . Those that could help were asked by their own people to do so .......
One of those not directly effected by 'The Great Hunger' and its accompanying diseases was a certain Protestant clergyman (name not known to this scribbler) who wrote to the then British Prime Minister , 'Lord' John Russell (Russell replaced Robert Peel in that position in June 1846)-
- " My Lord - I have a right to speak for I am a Minister of God . Let me then importune and implore you , my Lord , to stand in the breach between the living and the dead . Tell the assembled Parliament that the people must not any more be left to die . " The good Reverend got his answer from Mr. 'Lord' Russell (May 1849 , British House of 'Commons') -
- " I do not think any effort of this House would , in the present unfortunate state of Ireland , be capable of preventing the dreadful scenes of suffering and death that are now occurring in Ireland . I distinctly repeat that I do not believe it is in the power of this House to do so . I do not feel justified in asking the House for an additional advance of £100,000 which at least would be necessary if the House should say there should be no possible cause of starvation in Ireland . "
Callous bastard .
However , I digress - in September 1849 , Philip Grey , 22 years of age , arrived in Dublin following the collapse of the proposed Rising in the Tipperary / Waterford area , and settled in the town.......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .......
"....... March 1921 ; we had been told that a British Army patrol would be on the river in two days time - a plan of attack was put together , and travel arrangements made ......."
" The Buick Tourer was a silent and powerful car that Jim Grey maintained at its original efficiency - we had no fears on that score . Neither had anyone any fears as regards the driving ; Jim himself always proclaimed that he was in mortal terror of coming events - " Glory be to God , lads ," he would exclaim piously , " I'm terribly windy . " This was treated as a standard joke , and now we waited for it as the finale to our preparations !
The car-hood was lowered and strapped down , the top half of the windscreen was removed and a rectangular piece of plate glass was cut and removed from the corner of the lower half , remote from the driver - this was done to provide a convenient rest for the Lewis-Gun when facing forward . Tea was announced , and we adjourned to the house . After grub , night had fallen , which was our best ally . Without its aid , the weak could hardly hope to fight or resist the strong . Now under its friendly cover , we were about to move nearer to the enemy .
Fully armed , we took our places in the Buick . Most of the IRA Column stood around to wish us God speed , and I also suspect , to listen to our drivers usual valedictory ......."
(MORE LATER).
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .......
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
(4 of 7).
In 1954 , Clann na Poblachta won three seats , but a smaller share of the poll (3.8 per cent). In 1957 , the party got 1.7 per cent of the vote and one seat , and this remained its representation in the Dail (sic- Leinster House) until it was wound-up in 1965 .
The 1940's also saw a split in the Labour Party vote : in 1944 , the 'Irish Transport And General Workers Union' (ITGWU - now known as SIPTU) split from the Labour Party over the latter's relationship with Big Jim Larkin , bringing five TD's (sic- Leinster House members) with it to form the 'National Labour Party' .
The 'National Labour Party' won four seats in the 1944 election , and five in 1948 , when it too joined the first inter-party (Free State) government . In that Administration , it re-united with the Labour Party in 1950 . The split between Noel Browne and Sean MacBride in Clann na Poblachta brought with it the seeds of yet another political party , though these did not come to fruition until 1961 .
In that year (1961) Noel Browne , along with Jack McQuillan , formed the 'National Progressive Democrats' . They fought the General Election and got only 1 per cent of the vote , but it brought two seats . In 1963 , they joined the Labour Party .......
(MORE LATER).
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
PHILIP GREY ; 1827 - 1857 : AN IRISH MILITARY MAN.......
.......An attack on the English Barracks in Cappoquin , Waterford , by the Irish Rebels , on 16th September 1849 , went wrong - Philip Grey escaped from the area and made his way to Dublin . The wretchedness of 'living' conditions in those days , which Philip Grey would have witnessed on his travels around Ireland , would have turned any proud Irish person into a Rebel .......
The Catholic Church had gone on record in that same year of the Cappoquin incident (ie 1849) as stating - " The great majority of poor located here are in a state of starvation , many of them hourly expecting death to relieve them of their sufferings ." Incidentally , that statement was issued in February 1849 , the same month that a 'Grand Ball' was held in Dublin's Mansion House at which it was reported that " ...dancing continued until a late hour of the night and refreshments of a most recherche description were supplied with inexhaustible profusion ..." Thus did the British enjoy themselves during 'The Great Hunger' .
Also making the news that same year (1849) was the statement of an eye-witness to 'living' conditions outside of 'Grand Balls' - " Every village has dead bodies lying unburied for many days . Almost every hovel in the suburb of this town (Ballinrobe , Galway) has its corpse . May God forgive our rulers for this cruel conduct towards God's creatures here . The poor are dropping into their graves in multitudes . "
However , not all on the island of Ireland were effected by 'The Great Hunger'.......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .
" Early in March 1921 , our IRA Column was located at Cumuiclumhain , Ballyvourney . Things had quietened down since Coolnacahera , and the days were peaceful . Then one evening I heard : " Hughie , you're wanted . Mick , you're wanted ." Hughie was Eugene O'Sullivan , our Lewis-Gunner , and Mick was myself , his assistant . The speaker was Dan Donovan ('Sandow'). Dan's eyes were bright and he was smiling . We knew something was afoot ; we followed him into Twomey's , our headquarters .
Within , we found our Brigadier , Sean O'Hegarty ; my brother Pat , our Commandant ; Jim Grey , our driver ; Sean Murray , our instructor , and Corney O'Sullivan , our engineer . Sean came to the point quickly - with him and with all his Officers there was no formality . While the highest proficiency in military skill had been attained in the use of arms and by necessary exercises , yet formal salutations and the like were intolerable to him , and indeed to all concerned . Now he addressed us thus -
- " Flurrie has found out that Strickland and a party will be going on a trip down the river from Cork the day after tomorrow . We'll try and sink them at the Marina . Dan will be in charge ; Jim will drive the Buick , Sean and Corney are going , and Hughie and Mick with the Lewis . Ye will go to Donoughmore tonight by the old route . After the British curfew patrols are withdrawn in the morning in the city , ye must get to the southern-side of the river . Then stay tomorrow night at Ballygarvan . Mick Murphy will meet ye at Kaper Daly's pub , Farmers Cross , on the following morning , and take ye in to the city . Be as careful as ye can . "
We had a job ; it was time to get ready for our journey ......."
(MORE LATER).
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .......
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
(3 of 7).
Clann na Talmhan (1938-1965) had a rival political party in the form of Clann na Poblachta , which is perhaps better remembered , although it only briefly had as much support as Clann na Talmhan and did not last as long . It was founded as a radical Irish Republican party by Sean MacBride in 1946 , and the following year won two out of three by-elections , defeating Fianna Fail .
The General Election of 1948 marked its high point ; it won 13 per cent of the vote and 10 seats . It too entered the first inter-party (Free State) government , and one of its members , Noel Browne , held the key Ministry of Health . This provoked the 'Mother and Child' controversy , when Browne's progressive proposals were repudiated by the government , including his own party colleagues .
In the next election the party lost heavily , emerging with 4.1 per cent of the vote and only two seats . Even Sean MacBride lost his seat .......
(MORE LATER).
.......An attack on the English Barracks in Cappoquin , Waterford , by the Irish Rebels , on 16th September 1849 , went wrong - Philip Grey escaped from the area and made his way to Dublin . The wretchedness of 'living' conditions in those days , which Philip Grey would have witnessed on his travels around Ireland , would have turned any proud Irish person into a Rebel .......
The Catholic Church had gone on record in that same year of the Cappoquin incident (ie 1849) as stating - " The great majority of poor located here are in a state of starvation , many of them hourly expecting death to relieve them of their sufferings ." Incidentally , that statement was issued in February 1849 , the same month that a 'Grand Ball' was held in Dublin's Mansion House at which it was reported that " ...dancing continued until a late hour of the night and refreshments of a most recherche description were supplied with inexhaustible profusion ..." Thus did the British enjoy themselves during 'The Great Hunger' .
Also making the news that same year (1849) was the statement of an eye-witness to 'living' conditions outside of 'Grand Balls' - " Every village has dead bodies lying unburied for many days . Almost every hovel in the suburb of this town (Ballinrobe , Galway) has its corpse . May God forgive our rulers for this cruel conduct towards God's creatures here . The poor are dropping into their graves in multitudes . "
However , not all on the island of Ireland were effected by 'The Great Hunger'.......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
A DRIVE TO CORK CITY .
" Early in March 1921 , our IRA Column was located at Cumuiclumhain , Ballyvourney . Things had quietened down since Coolnacahera , and the days were peaceful . Then one evening I heard : " Hughie , you're wanted . Mick , you're wanted ." Hughie was Eugene O'Sullivan , our Lewis-Gunner , and Mick was myself , his assistant . The speaker was Dan Donovan ('Sandow'). Dan's eyes were bright and he was smiling . We knew something was afoot ; we followed him into Twomey's , our headquarters .
Within , we found our Brigadier , Sean O'Hegarty ; my brother Pat , our Commandant ; Jim Grey , our driver ; Sean Murray , our instructor , and Corney O'Sullivan , our engineer . Sean came to the point quickly - with him and with all his Officers there was no formality . While the highest proficiency in military skill had been attained in the use of arms and by necessary exercises , yet formal salutations and the like were intolerable to him , and indeed to all concerned . Now he addressed us thus -
- " Flurrie has found out that Strickland and a party will be going on a trip down the river from Cork the day after tomorrow . We'll try and sink them at the Marina . Dan will be in charge ; Jim will drive the Buick , Sean and Corney are going , and Hughie and Mick with the Lewis . Ye will go to Donoughmore tonight by the old route . After the British curfew patrols are withdrawn in the morning in the city , ye must get to the southern-side of the river . Then stay tomorrow night at Ballygarvan . Mick Murphy will meet ye at Kaper Daly's pub , Farmers Cross , on the following morning , and take ye in to the city . Be as careful as ye can . "
We had a job ; it was time to get ready for our journey ......."
(MORE LATER).
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .......
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
(3 of 7).
Clann na Talmhan (1938-1965) had a rival political party in the form of Clann na Poblachta , which is perhaps better remembered , although it only briefly had as much support as Clann na Talmhan and did not last as long . It was founded as a radical Irish Republican party by Sean MacBride in 1946 , and the following year won two out of three by-elections , defeating Fianna Fail .
The General Election of 1948 marked its high point ; it won 13 per cent of the vote and 10 seats . It too entered the first inter-party (Free State) government , and one of its members , Noel Browne , held the key Ministry of Health . This provoked the 'Mother and Child' controversy , when Browne's progressive proposals were repudiated by the government , including his own party colleagues .
In the next election the party lost heavily , emerging with 4.1 per cent of the vote and only two seats . Even Sean MacBride lost his seat .......
(MORE LATER).
Monday, May 24, 2004
PHILIP GREY ; 1827 - 1857 : AN IRISH MILITARY MAN.......
....... November 1848 - informers in the ranks of 'The Young Ireland' Movement had told their British pay-masters about the proposed jail-break of William Smith O'Brien from Clonmel Jail ; Irish Rebel leader John O'Leary and about twenty other Irish Rebels were 'arrested' by the Brits , but Philip Grey escaped and fled to France , where he landed in April/May 1849 .......
Philip Grey was not long in Paris , France , when he was told that one of the Rebel leaders in Ireland , James Fintan Lalor , was organising for another challenge against English mis-rule in Ireland ; he returned to the South of Ireland (Tipperary/Waterford area) and , working with Lalor's men and women , soon established a network of Rebel fighters , numbering several-hundred strong , and set-about organising the importation of arms for the proposed Rising ... but fate intervened -
- an attack on the English Barracks in Cappoquin , Waterford , by the Irish Rebels , on 16th September 1849 , went wrong and led to the collapse of the insurgent Movement in the area ; in the confusion that followed , Philip Grey escaped and made his way to Dublin . It was a wonder in itself that any armed opposition at all could be raised against the English , at that time .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
COOLNACAHERA and COOMNACLOHY .......
"....... The British Auxiliaries were questioning old Liam Jer as to the whereabouts of any " Shinners " ; Liam told them he had seen some "soldiers" earlier on that day ......."
" The British Auxiliaries were interested in these 'soldiers' - " How were they dressed ? Had they helmets on them ? What did they wear on their heads ? "
" Nothing at all on their heads ," said Liam .
" How were they dressed , old man ? "
" They had overcoats on their shoulders and breeches like them , " pointing to an Auxie's riding breeches , " and they had brown boots and gaiters . "
" Ah !" , said the Brits , " were there many of them ? "
" About two hundred , " said Liam.
" What did they look like ? What kind of men were they ? "
" Oh , fine , strapping young men , only one old man with grey hair , and I had great pity for him . "
" Why ? " , asked the Auxies .
" He was carrying a very heavy gun . It must be one of those machine-guns . Indeed , I had no pity for any other one of them , whoever they were . "
The Auxies looked doubtfully at Liam's small yard and the narrow road . Then one of them spoke - " Can I turn my car here ? "
" Begor , I always turn mine there anyway , " Liam replied .
Liam's car was one donkey-power .......
[END of 'COOLNACAHERA and COOMNACLOHY'].
(Tomorrow - March 1921 : 'A Drive To Cork City').
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .......
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
(2 of 7).
The next new party was radical : this was Clann na Talmhan , founded in 1938 to represent the small farmers of the West . Together with a number of independent farmers' candidates , it won 10.6 per cent of the vote and 14 seats in the 1943 general election ; ten of those seats going to Clann na Talmhan . In the general election the following year it won nine seats , and , in 1948 , seven seats . It entered the first inter-party government along with Clann na Poblachta , the Labour Party , the National Labour Party , Fine Gael and a number of independents .
In the next election , three years later (1951) its number of seats fell again , to six . It declined steadily thereafter , winning five seats in 1954 , three in 1957 - following which it supported the second inter-party government - and two in 1961 .
Clann na Talmhan collapsed in 1965 , twenty-seven years after its foundation .......
(MORE LATER).
....... November 1848 - informers in the ranks of 'The Young Ireland' Movement had told their British pay-masters about the proposed jail-break of William Smith O'Brien from Clonmel Jail ; Irish Rebel leader John O'Leary and about twenty other Irish Rebels were 'arrested' by the Brits , but Philip Grey escaped and fled to France , where he landed in April/May 1849 .......
Philip Grey was not long in Paris , France , when he was told that one of the Rebel leaders in Ireland , James Fintan Lalor , was organising for another challenge against English mis-rule in Ireland ; he returned to the South of Ireland (Tipperary/Waterford area) and , working with Lalor's men and women , soon established a network of Rebel fighters , numbering several-hundred strong , and set-about organising the importation of arms for the proposed Rising ... but fate intervened -
- an attack on the English Barracks in Cappoquin , Waterford , by the Irish Rebels , on 16th September 1849 , went wrong and led to the collapse of the insurgent Movement in the area ; in the confusion that followed , Philip Grey escaped and made his way to Dublin . It was a wonder in itself that any armed opposition at all could be raised against the English , at that time .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
COOLNACAHERA and COOMNACLOHY .......
"....... The British Auxiliaries were questioning old Liam Jer as to the whereabouts of any " Shinners " ; Liam told them he had seen some "soldiers" earlier on that day ......."
" The British Auxiliaries were interested in these 'soldiers' - " How were they dressed ? Had they helmets on them ? What did they wear on their heads ? "
" Nothing at all on their heads ," said Liam .
" How were they dressed , old man ? "
" They had overcoats on their shoulders and breeches like them , " pointing to an Auxie's riding breeches , " and they had brown boots and gaiters . "
" Ah !" , said the Brits , " were there many of them ? "
" About two hundred , " said Liam.
" What did they look like ? What kind of men were they ? "
" Oh , fine , strapping young men , only one old man with grey hair , and I had great pity for him . "
" Why ? " , asked the Auxies .
" He was carrying a very heavy gun . It must be one of those machine-guns . Indeed , I had no pity for any other one of them , whoever they were . "
The Auxies looked doubtfully at Liam's small yard and the narrow road . Then one of them spoke - " Can I turn my car here ? "
" Begor , I always turn mine there anyway , " Liam replied .
Liam's car was one donkey-power .......
[END of 'COOLNACAHERA and COOMNACLOHY'].
(Tomorrow - March 1921 : 'A Drive To Cork City').
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .......
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
(2 of 7).
The next new party was radical : this was Clann na Talmhan , founded in 1938 to represent the small farmers of the West . Together with a number of independent farmers' candidates , it won 10.6 per cent of the vote and 14 seats in the 1943 general election ; ten of those seats going to Clann na Talmhan . In the general election the following year it won nine seats , and , in 1948 , seven seats . It entered the first inter-party government along with Clann na Poblachta , the Labour Party , the National Labour Party , Fine Gael and a number of independents .
In the next election , three years later (1951) its number of seats fell again , to six . It declined steadily thereafter , winning five seats in 1954 , three in 1957 - following which it supported the second inter-party government - and two in 1961 .
Clann na Talmhan collapsed in 1965 , twenty-seven years after its foundation .......
(MORE LATER).
Sunday, May 23, 2004
PHILIP GREY ; 1827 - 1857 : AN IRISH MILITARY MAN.......
....... Philip Grey was in County Meath in mid-1848 when he learned that 'The Young Ireland' Rising had started ; he tried to organise the Rebels in Meath , but failed - so he left for Tipperary .......
He joined-up with William Smith O'Brien and James Stephens and took part in the 'Battle Of Ballingarry' . On 29 July 1848 , the Rising collapsed and those involved dispersed . One of those in command of the Irish Rebels , John O'Mahony , placed Philip Grey and John Savage in charge of organising the Waterford area , and an attack on the British Military Barracks in Portlaw was carried out ; however , before the Irish Rebels could take things further , the Rebel leader John O'Leary requested Philip Grey to assist his team to 'spring' William Smith O'Brien and other Rebels from prison - they were being held in Clonmel Jail in Tipperary .
Arrangements were put in place for the rescue attempt , and a date agreed - 8th November 1848 . But informers were at work , and the English were aware of the Rebel plans ; John O'Leary and about twenty of his men were 'arrested' by the Brits , but Philip Grey escaped and went 'on-the-run' in County Waterford for a few months but , such was the 'man-hunt' for him by the enemy , he was forced to flee the Country for France , where he arrived in April/May , 1849 .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
COOLNACAHERA and COOMNACLOHY .......
"....... February 1921 ; there was fifty-two British Army lorries in our vicinity ; one IRA man severely wounded , two cottages , two farmhouses and a hayshed burned to the ground by the Brits. But there was also humour that same day ......."
" Paddy Beag and another old man were behind the rocks at Coolnacahera , unconscious of any impending disturbance . Suddenly the firing started and deflected bullets whined high over them . At their highest speed , the two old men started home . Presently , in comparative safety , they stopped to draw their breath ; " Is'nt it an awful thing , Paddy , to see two oul'lads like us having to run like this . Or what is the country coming ta ? " " It is then ," said Paddy , " but these times won't last always . God is good . " " Ah, " said the other oul'fella , " sure I know He's good , BUT WHAT CAN HE DO ? "
Liam Jer was an old man whose legs were somewhat reduced in efficiency by the march of time , but whose peculiar wit and tongue flourished unimpaired . He lived in a small farmhouse on the side of the narrow road from Poul na Bro to Kilnamartyra . The rocky and steep Rahoona Hill cast its shadow , in the evening , on Liam's hacienda . We scarcely ever passed by without meeting Liam . " Conas ta'n sibh . Bhfuil aon oul'news agaibh ? " (or - in 'Dub-speak' : " How'ya - what's the story ? ") was always his greeting . He took the greatest pleasure in answering questions put to him by enemy forces . This evening Liam met the British Auxiliaries just as they stopped a Crossley truck opposite his door . They dismounted and quickly came to the point - " Did you see any Shinners today ? "
"What !" said Liam ; " Any Shinners , " they repeated , " seen any ? " " What are Shinners ? " asked Liam . " Oh , Shinners - the IRA , you know . " " I don't know them either , " he said , " but I saw soldiers passing ..." " Soldiers ! No soldiers passed this way today ! " the Brits replied . " Oh, but they did ," said Liam to them , " they went up that way , " pointing with his stick to Rahoona . " Were they some of our men ? " " They could be , " said Liam , " but they were not dressed like ye ......."
(MORE LATER).
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
(1 of 7).
The history of breakaway parties in Ireland is not encouraging for those who may be thinking of staking their political careers on the formation of a new one .
Most of the smaller parties which littered the political landscape in the 1930's , 1940's and 1950's either collapsed or merged with larger ones . The first such party was The Centre Party , formed in 1932 by a number of independent TD's (sic- ie Leinster House members), including Paddy Belton . They were joined later by James Dillon .
The Centre Party was conservative and pro-Treaty (ie - the 6th December 1921 'Treaty of Surrender') and won over 9 per cent of the vote and eleven seats in 1932 . In 1937 , it merged with the Blueshirts and Cumann na nGaedhail to form Fine Gael .
(MORE LATER).
....... Philip Grey was in County Meath in mid-1848 when he learned that 'The Young Ireland' Rising had started ; he tried to organise the Rebels in Meath , but failed - so he left for Tipperary .......
He joined-up with William Smith O'Brien and James Stephens and took part in the 'Battle Of Ballingarry' . On 29 July 1848 , the Rising collapsed and those involved dispersed . One of those in command of the Irish Rebels , John O'Mahony , placed Philip Grey and John Savage in charge of organising the Waterford area , and an attack on the British Military Barracks in Portlaw was carried out ; however , before the Irish Rebels could take things further , the Rebel leader John O'Leary requested Philip Grey to assist his team to 'spring' William Smith O'Brien and other Rebels from prison - they were being held in Clonmel Jail in Tipperary .
Arrangements were put in place for the rescue attempt , and a date agreed - 8th November 1848 . But informers were at work , and the English were aware of the Rebel plans ; John O'Leary and about twenty of his men were 'arrested' by the Brits , but Philip Grey escaped and went 'on-the-run' in County Waterford for a few months but , such was the 'man-hunt' for him by the enemy , he was forced to flee the Country for France , where he arrived in April/May , 1849 .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
COOLNACAHERA and COOMNACLOHY .......
"....... February 1921 ; there was fifty-two British Army lorries in our vicinity ; one IRA man severely wounded , two cottages , two farmhouses and a hayshed burned to the ground by the Brits. But there was also humour that same day ......."
" Paddy Beag and another old man were behind the rocks at Coolnacahera , unconscious of any impending disturbance . Suddenly the firing started and deflected bullets whined high over them . At their highest speed , the two old men started home . Presently , in comparative safety , they stopped to draw their breath ; " Is'nt it an awful thing , Paddy , to see two oul'lads like us having to run like this . Or what is the country coming ta ? " " It is then ," said Paddy , " but these times won't last always . God is good . " " Ah, " said the other oul'fella , " sure I know He's good , BUT WHAT CAN HE DO ? "
Liam Jer was an old man whose legs were somewhat reduced in efficiency by the march of time , but whose peculiar wit and tongue flourished unimpaired . He lived in a small farmhouse on the side of the narrow road from Poul na Bro to Kilnamartyra . The rocky and steep Rahoona Hill cast its shadow , in the evening , on Liam's hacienda . We scarcely ever passed by without meeting Liam . " Conas ta'n sibh . Bhfuil aon oul'news agaibh ? " (or - in 'Dub-speak' : " How'ya - what's the story ? ") was always his greeting . He took the greatest pleasure in answering questions put to him by enemy forces . This evening Liam met the British Auxiliaries just as they stopped a Crossley truck opposite his door . They dismounted and quickly came to the point - " Did you see any Shinners today ? "
"What !" said Liam ; " Any Shinners , " they repeated , " seen any ? " " What are Shinners ? " asked Liam . " Oh , Shinners - the IRA , you know . " " I don't know them either , " he said , " but I saw soldiers passing ..." " Soldiers ! No soldiers passed this way today ! " the Brits replied . " Oh, but they did ," said Liam to them , " they went up that way , " pointing with his stick to Rahoona . " Were they some of our men ? " " They could be , " said Liam , " but they were not dressed like ye ......."
(MORE LATER).
BREAKAWAY PARTIES HAVE POOR RECORD .
By Carol Coulter.
(First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper on Monday 22nd April 1985).
Reproduced here in 7 parts .
(1 of 7).
The history of breakaway parties in Ireland is not encouraging for those who may be thinking of staking their political careers on the formation of a new one .
Most of the smaller parties which littered the political landscape in the 1930's , 1940's and 1950's either collapsed or merged with larger ones . The first such party was The Centre Party , formed in 1932 by a number of independent TD's (sic- ie Leinster House members), including Paddy Belton . They were joined later by James Dillon .
The Centre Party was conservative and pro-Treaty (ie - the 6th December 1921 'Treaty of Surrender') and won over 9 per cent of the vote and eleven seats in 1932 . In 1937 , it merged with the Blueshirts and Cumann na nGaedhail to form Fine Gael .
(MORE LATER).
Saturday, May 22, 2004
PHILIP GREY ; 1827 - 1857 : AN IRISH MILITARY MAN.......
....... Philip Grey , in his early 20's , lived in a time when 2,466,414 Irish people emigrated or died because of 'The Great Hunger' of 1845-1849 .......
Philip Grey wanted justice ; his family had taken an active part in the 1798 Rising and now , he, too, wanted to play his part . He joined the Dublin Branch of 'The Irish Confederation' (which had its Offices in Queen Street , Dublin) and soon became Dublin Secretary for the organisation .
Not apparently inspired by politics (due perhaps to Daniel O'Connell's political failure to convince the British to change , or at least ease , its position re Ireland), Philip Grey studied military tactics and weapons use and , although by now working as a railway clerk in Drogheda , he could be found each night in the Queen Street Office in Dublin training other Rebels in all matters military.
In mid-1848 , while he was in County Meath , Philip Grey heard that 'The Young Ireland' Rising had began ; he tried to gather a fighting-force around him in that county (Meath) , but failed - he left for Tipperary , where he joined-up with William Smith O'Brien and James Stephens and took part in the 'Battle of Ballingarry'.......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
COOLNACAHERA and COOMNACLOHY .......
".......We were outnumbered and outgunned - but we were also lucky. Three British Army soldiers were wounded in the engagement , as was one of our men ......."
" The Dunmanway Auxiliaries arrived at Kilnamartyra , a few miles south of Coolnacahera , early in the forenoon while fighting was in progress . From several hilltops they viewed the scene and listened to the gun-fire ; instead of going straight towards it by a very direct road which would have brought them out at Poul na Bro , just where they were wanted on the western flank of the Column , they continued westward to Renanirree , four miles away . Turning north , they went in the general direction of Ballyvourney , but by the most intricate network of bye roads .
They arrived there , of course in time to be late , but that does not appear to have depressed them unduly . Indeed , at one of their stops in Kilnamartyra , one of them was heard to remark that they would be there quite soon enough ! An unarmed man running away from them would perhaps have roused their enthusiasm ; like their comrades who waited on the Killarney Road , the noise of battle did not appeal to them ! Fifty-two lorries of British Army Regular and Auxiliary soldiers were present at or near the scene of battle at noon . Excepting the Brit troops that entered Coomnaclohy , the others did not show any great desire to follow up our IRA Column .
Instead , they choose a more congenial occupation - they burned the two cottages that had sheltered the Auxiliaries and saved their comrades lives , and burned a neighbouring hayshed and two farmhouses . North of Ballyvourney Village , they shot down an unarmed IRA Volunteer , severely wounding him . But the day was not without its humour ......."
(MORE LATER).
THE CONVICTION OF WILLIAM QUINN .......
' William Quinn was recently jailed for life in Britain having been convicted of the murder of a London policeman on the basis of evidence and an identification which has given rise to considerable controversy . '
BY MICHAEL FARRELL .
(First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , April 1988 , page 18).
Reproduced here in 9 parts.
[9 of 9].
Ironically , the judge who finally ordered William Quinn's extradition in the United States' Ninth Circuit Court , had said - " Clearly the evidence...linking Quinn with the Tibble murder is not overwhelming . If that were all the evidence introduced at a murder trial , Quinn could not be cinvicted . "
That was before the details of the "secret" identification had come to light . Meanwhile , Gareth Peirce is also disturbed at the role played by the Gardai in setting up an identification which she claims denied William Quinn all the safeguards normally insisted on in such cases .
[END of 'THE CONVICTION OF WILLIAM QUINN .......'].
(Tomorrow - 'Breakaway Parties Have Poor Record ...' ; from 1985).
....... Philip Grey , in his early 20's , lived in a time when 2,466,414 Irish people emigrated or died because of 'The Great Hunger' of 1845-1849 .......
Philip Grey wanted justice ; his family had taken an active part in the 1798 Rising and now , he, too, wanted to play his part . He joined the Dublin Branch of 'The Irish Confederation' (which had its Offices in Queen Street , Dublin) and soon became Dublin Secretary for the organisation .
Not apparently inspired by politics (due perhaps to Daniel O'Connell's political failure to convince the British to change , or at least ease , its position re Ireland), Philip Grey studied military tactics and weapons use and , although by now working as a railway clerk in Drogheda , he could be found each night in the Queen Street Office in Dublin training other Rebels in all matters military.
In mid-1848 , while he was in County Meath , Philip Grey heard that 'The Young Ireland' Rising had began ; he tried to gather a fighting-force around him in that county (Meath) , but failed - he left for Tipperary , where he joined-up with William Smith O'Brien and James Stephens and took part in the 'Battle of Ballingarry'.......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
COOLNACAHERA and COOMNACLOHY .......
".......We were outnumbered and outgunned - but we were also lucky. Three British Army soldiers were wounded in the engagement , as was one of our men ......."
" The Dunmanway Auxiliaries arrived at Kilnamartyra , a few miles south of Coolnacahera , early in the forenoon while fighting was in progress . From several hilltops they viewed the scene and listened to the gun-fire ; instead of going straight towards it by a very direct road which would have brought them out at Poul na Bro , just where they were wanted on the western flank of the Column , they continued westward to Renanirree , four miles away . Turning north , they went in the general direction of Ballyvourney , but by the most intricate network of bye roads .
They arrived there , of course in time to be late , but that does not appear to have depressed them unduly . Indeed , at one of their stops in Kilnamartyra , one of them was heard to remark that they would be there quite soon enough ! An unarmed man running away from them would perhaps have roused their enthusiasm ; like their comrades who waited on the Killarney Road , the noise of battle did not appeal to them ! Fifty-two lorries of British Army Regular and Auxiliary soldiers were present at or near the scene of battle at noon . Excepting the Brit troops that entered Coomnaclohy , the others did not show any great desire to follow up our IRA Column .
Instead , they choose a more congenial occupation - they burned the two cottages that had sheltered the Auxiliaries and saved their comrades lives , and burned a neighbouring hayshed and two farmhouses . North of Ballyvourney Village , they shot down an unarmed IRA Volunteer , severely wounding him . But the day was not without its humour ......."
(MORE LATER).
THE CONVICTION OF WILLIAM QUINN .......
' William Quinn was recently jailed for life in Britain having been convicted of the murder of a London policeman on the basis of evidence and an identification which has given rise to considerable controversy . '
BY MICHAEL FARRELL .
(First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , April 1988 , page 18).
Reproduced here in 9 parts.
[9 of 9].
Ironically , the judge who finally ordered William Quinn's extradition in the United States' Ninth Circuit Court , had said - " Clearly the evidence...linking Quinn with the Tibble murder is not overwhelming . If that were all the evidence introduced at a murder trial , Quinn could not be cinvicted . "
That was before the details of the "secret" identification had come to light . Meanwhile , Gareth Peirce is also disturbed at the role played by the Gardai in setting up an identification which she claims denied William Quinn all the safeguards normally insisted on in such cases .
[END of 'THE CONVICTION OF WILLIAM QUINN .......'].
(Tomorrow - 'Breakaway Parties Have Poor Record ...' ; from 1985).
Friday, May 21, 2004
PHILIP GREY ; 1827 - 1857 : AN IRISH MILITARY MAN.......
....... Ireland , mid-19th Century - in his early 20's , Philip Grey would have witnessed ' The Irish Confederation ' being established to challenge the Brits regarding their mis-rule in Ireland ; but another plague was stalking the land - ' The Great Hunger ' . A pro status-quo newspaper , ' The Freemans Journal ' , wrote the following Editorial in February 1849 ...
" We ask again - is it not possible to contrive some means of saving the people from this painful and lingering process of death from starvation ? Do we live under a regular or responsible government ? Is there justice or humanity in the world that such things could be , in the middle of the nineteenth century and within twelve hours' reach of the opulence , grandeur and power of a court and capital the first upon the earth ? "
As mentioned in '1169.....' recently , 'The Freemans Journal' newspaper was a 'Castle-Catholic' organ , fully constitutionally-minded , regardless of the suffering of the population . A tangent - In 1841 , the population of Ireland was 8,175,124 ; a (then) normal rate of population increase for a ten-year period should have seen , by 1851 , at least 9,018,799 people on this island : however , the 1851 census recorded only 6,552,385 people 'living' in Ireland .
Emigration and death , caused by 'The Great Hunger' of 1845-1849 took away 2,466,414 Irish people .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
COOLNACAHERA and COOMNACLOHY .......
".......I never got my mug of tea ; in the distance we could see the line of British Army lorries heading towards us - they were full of armed soldiers ......."
" Our men had lined a fence parallel to the road and back a few hundred yards . The lorries stopped on the road opposite them ; the Brits must have seen someone . I saw one of our men stand up just before they stopped . At any rate , they dismounted and deployed as if on field exercise . Rapidly advancing , they reached the middle of the field - our men opened fire , and the enemy fell flat and returned a volley . Then rising , they again rushed forward .
I noticed that they had yet no casualty ; their flanks were extended beyond our line and they greatly outnumbered our men , who began to withdraw and shoot in like manner . The shooting on both sides was equally bad . Now our men had to face the hill and were doing so in the worst possible way - here , my brother intervened and directed them into a cumar , or bed of a stream , which ran slantwise to the enemy and so gave shelter . With a few men he held back the enemy while the others escaped . The British soldiers continued to fire but did not attempt to follow up .
When they reached us , Corney asked why we had not fired over their heads with the Lewis-Gun ; we replied that we could have done little or no damage at that range to the extended enemy , and might have caused confusion among some of our own men coming uphill . Three British soldiers were wounded in this skirmish , and one of our men got a very slight wound in the hand . While the shooting lasted and for some time afterwards , British Army lorries stood a few miles south of us on the Killarney Road .
Had they had the will to do so , they could actually have driven up behind us ......."
(MORE LATER).
THE CONVICTION OF WILLIAM QUINN .......
' William Quinn was recently jailed for life in Britain having been convicted of the murder of a London policeman on the basis of evidence and an identification which has given rise to considerable controversy . '
BY MICHAEL FARRELL .
(First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , April 1988 , page 18).
Reproduced here in 9 parts.
(8 of 9).
William Quinn's U.S. lawyer , Ms. Carlene Rohan , who was in court for the trial , commented that no American court would have admitted the evidence of identification . Gareth Peirce says it is a deeply worrying case and she has lodged an appeal on the grounds that British Police Constable Blackledge's identification should never have been put to the jury .
The result will be watched closely in the U.S. where a new Extradition Treaty with Britain was passed in 1986 only on the understanding that extraditees would get a fair trial before British courts .......
(MORE LATER).
....... Ireland , mid-19th Century - in his early 20's , Philip Grey would have witnessed ' The Irish Confederation ' being established to challenge the Brits regarding their mis-rule in Ireland ; but another plague was stalking the land - ' The Great Hunger ' . A pro status-quo newspaper , ' The Freemans Journal ' , wrote the following Editorial in February 1849 ...
" We ask again - is it not possible to contrive some means of saving the people from this painful and lingering process of death from starvation ? Do we live under a regular or responsible government ? Is there justice or humanity in the world that such things could be , in the middle of the nineteenth century and within twelve hours' reach of the opulence , grandeur and power of a court and capital the first upon the earth ? "
As mentioned in '1169.....' recently , 'The Freemans Journal' newspaper was a 'Castle-Catholic' organ , fully constitutionally-minded , regardless of the suffering of the population . A tangent - In 1841 , the population of Ireland was 8,175,124 ; a (then) normal rate of population increase for a ten-year period should have seen , by 1851 , at least 9,018,799 people on this island : however , the 1851 census recorded only 6,552,385 people 'living' in Ireland .
Emigration and death , caused by 'The Great Hunger' of 1845-1849 took away 2,466,414 Irish people .......
(MORE LATER).
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
COOLNACAHERA and COOMNACLOHY .......
".......I never got my mug of tea ; in the distance we could see the line of British Army lorries heading towards us - they were full of armed soldiers ......."
" Our men had lined a fence parallel to the road and back a few hundred yards . The lorries stopped on the road opposite them ; the Brits must have seen someone . I saw one of our men stand up just before they stopped . At any rate , they dismounted and deployed as if on field exercise . Rapidly advancing , they reached the middle of the field - our men opened fire , and the enemy fell flat and returned a volley . Then rising , they again rushed forward .
I noticed that they had yet no casualty ; their flanks were extended beyond our line and they greatly outnumbered our men , who began to withdraw and shoot in like manner . The shooting on both sides was equally bad . Now our men had to face the hill and were doing so in the worst possible way - here , my brother intervened and directed them into a cumar , or bed of a stream , which ran slantwise to the enemy and so gave shelter . With a few men he held back the enemy while the others escaped . The British soldiers continued to fire but did not attempt to follow up .
When they reached us , Corney asked why we had not fired over their heads with the Lewis-Gun ; we replied that we could have done little or no damage at that range to the extended enemy , and might have caused confusion among some of our own men coming uphill . Three British soldiers were wounded in this skirmish , and one of our men got a very slight wound in the hand . While the shooting lasted and for some time afterwards , British Army lorries stood a few miles south of us on the Killarney Road .
Had they had the will to do so , they could actually have driven up behind us ......."
(MORE LATER).
THE CONVICTION OF WILLIAM QUINN .......
' William Quinn was recently jailed for life in Britain having been convicted of the murder of a London policeman on the basis of evidence and an identification which has given rise to considerable controversy . '
BY MICHAEL FARRELL .
(First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , April 1988 , page 18).
Reproduced here in 9 parts.
(8 of 9).
William Quinn's U.S. lawyer , Ms. Carlene Rohan , who was in court for the trial , commented that no American court would have admitted the evidence of identification . Gareth Peirce says it is a deeply worrying case and she has lodged an appeal on the grounds that British Police Constable Blackledge's identification should never have been put to the jury .
The result will be watched closely in the U.S. where a new Extradition Treaty with Britain was passed in 1986 only on the understanding that extraditees would get a fair trial before British courts .......
(MORE LATER).
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